Pogacar wins the Milan-San Remo after surviving a crash and finishing off Pidcock on Via Roma

Tadej Pogacar has finally won the Milan-San Remo that had eluded him for so long. The Slovenian triumphed in the 2026 edition after finishing off a fierce battle with Tom Pidcock on Via Roma, on a day when he had to overcome even a fall before the Cipressa. Wout van Aert, after also being affected at that crucial moment of the race, made a great comeback to finish third and complete a top-level podium in the first Monument of the season.

Pogacar conquers the Milan-San Remo 2026 after a wild finish against Pidcock

The Classicissima once again followed its usual script with many hours of control, a large breakaway up front, and all the tension reserved for the decisive stretch. The race started in Pavia, covering a distance of 298 kilometers, and for much of the day, the main group allowed the breakaway to go. While Alpecin-Premier Tech took control with Silvan Dillier, the favorites waited for their moment, with their sights set on the Capi, the Cipressa, and especially the Poggio.

However, the day took a sharp turn just before the point where the first major move was expected. In the approach to the Cipressa, a significant crash occurred involving Pogacar and Van Aert, among other riders. The world champion quickly returned to the peloton despite the blow, but the incident completely altered the positioning and forced several big names to expend energy even before the key climb began. Van Aert, in fact, fell further behind and had to launch into a time trial chase.

Even so, Pogacar did not change his plan. On the Cipressa, he was once again the rider who blew the race apart. UAE increased the pace, and when the Slovenian really took off, only a few could sustain that change of speed. The move left Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Tom Pidcock ahead, a trio that determined the outcome of the race. The climb was not enough to seal the deal, but it did serve to break the race and make it clear that this Milan-San Remo was not going to be resolved with a wide sprint.

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The descent from the Cipressa kept the tension at its peak. Pogacar continued to push to the limit, Van der Poel stayed in the fight, and Pidcock was the first to respond to several attacks, confirming that he was in a position to contest the victory. Behind, the peloton tried to reorganize, while riders like Van Aert attempted to close the gap after the setback suffered in the crash.

On the Poggio, the final selection was made. Pogacar kept insisting time and again, true to his style, until he managed to inflict real damage. This time Van der Poel did give way to one of the Slovenian's accelerations and fell behind, while Pidcock was the only one able to stay on his wheel. There, the duel for victory was born with the two riders ahead, favorable terrain to the finish, and still enough of a margin over the pursuers to contest San Remo between them.

Pidcock did not limit himself to defending second place. He descended with ambition, collaborated to keep the adventure alive, and took the resolution to the final kilometer. Pogacar had to manage the effort and the vigilance, while the Brit waited for his moment on his wheel. Already in the final stretch of Via Roma, the Slovenian launched the sprint from the front and managed to barely hold off Pidcock's charge to seal a long-sought victory.

Behind, Van der Poel was absorbed in the fight for the podium, and Van Aert found the strength to move in the final stretch. His attack allowed him to barely resist the return of the group and secure a third place that rewards his ability to react in a race that had seriously complicated for him after the fall before the Cipressa.

The 2026 edition leaves a powerful image in which Pogacar won the Milan-San Remo that he had so often brushed against, and he did so on a day full of surprises, attacks, and plot twists. He overcame the accident, hardened the Cipressa, broke the race on the Poggio, and finished on Via Roma. This time, the world champion finally found a way to conquer the most unpredictable Monument on the calendar.

Top 10 Milán-San Remo 2026

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) – 6:35:49
2. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – +0:00
3. Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +0:04
4. Mads Pedersen (Lidl - Trek) – +0:04
5. Corbin Strong (NSN Cycling Team) – +0:04
6. Andrea Vendrame (Team Jayco AlUla) – +0:04
7. Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) – +0:04
8. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) – +0:04
9. Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – +0:04
10. Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain - Victorious) – +0:04