Tadej Pogacar edges Tom Pidcock to win first Milan-San Remo title
World champion Tadej Pogacar overcame a mid-race crash to win his first Milan-San Remo title by half a wheel from Britain’s Tom Pidcock in a dramatic sprint finish.
The four-time Tour de France winner launched a decisive attack with 22km of the gruelling 298km Monument remaining.
Only Pidcock and defending champion Mathieu van der Poel could initially follow the blistering pace.
Poggio climb proves decisive
Two-time winner Van der Poel was eventually dropped on the final ascent of the renowned Poggio.
This left the Slovenian and his British rival to contest a tense two-man finale.
The UAE Team Emirates rider initiated the sprint first, narrowly holding off a fierce challenge as both men threw their bikes toward the line.
Closing in on cycling history
This remarkable victory means the 27-year-old has now conquered four of the five most prestigious one-day races in men’s cycling.
He sits level with Roger de Vlaeminck on 11 total Monument victories.
Only legendary Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx holds more Monument titles with an astonishing 19 career wins.
Crash scare and rival praise
The race favourite achieved this historic feat despite crashing just before the crucial Cipressa climb.
“For a second I thought it was all over but luckily I was quickly back on the bike. Pidcock was really, really strong. I was lucky in the sprint, he’s a really fast guy.”
Tadej Pogacar
Pidcock shows future Monument threat
The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider demonstrated immense technical skill to match the world champion on the treacherous Poggio descent.
While falling just short of becoming the third British winner, the Olympic mountain bike champion cemented his status as a major contender for future classics.
Further back, 2020 winner Wout van Aert sprinted clear of the chasing pack to secure third place.
In the earlier women’s race, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky took victory on a day marred by a serious crash involving Italian Debora Silvestri.
Men’s Milan-San Remo top results
- Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 6hrs 35mins 49secs
- Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello-Q36.5) Same time
- Wout Van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a Bike) +4secs
- Mads Pedersen (Den/Lidl-Trek) Same time
