Van der Poel Faces Pogačar in 117th Milan-San Remo on March 21

The 117th edition of Milan-San Remo, cycling's longest one-day classic, takes place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Italy, pitting defending champion Mathieu van der Poel against Tadej Pogačar in a highly anticipated renewal of their rivalry. The men's 298-kilometer race from Milan to San Remo along the Ligurian coast will test endurance over the key climbs of the Cipressa and Poggio before a flat finish on Via Roma, while the women's 156-kilometer version follows a similar route later in the day.

Van der Poel, riding for Alpecin-Deceuninck, enters as the favorite after securing victory in the 2025 edition through a dramatic three-rider sprint with Pogačar and Filippo Ganna. The Dutch rider, who also won in 2023, described last year's success as one of his most spectacular, noting the rare breakaway on the Cipressa aided by tailwinds. "I feel really good after Tirreno-Adriatico," van der Poel said following his team's presentation in Pavia. He arrives in strong form, having claimed wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and two stages at Tirreno-Adriatico earlier this month.

Pogačar, the 27-year-old Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, seeks his first triumph in this Monument, one of...