Cycling, the new epic challenge between Pogacar and Van Der Poel in the Spring Classic

Here is the pulp of this Sanremo: that we are all waiting to see if this insatiable cannibal with a seemingly human face, will succeed in his goal of conquering a race that so far, for one reason or another, has always eluded him. "I don't like zeros in the palmares," he warns. In five participations, like a wolf approaching its prey, he has come closer and closer (twice third in 2024 and 2025) without, however, managing to make it his own. There are many reasons for this: the first is that the Sanremo route is not ideal for his characteristics. The second, which is not trivial, is that on his way he has found a formidable classics hunter like Mathieu Van Der Poel, a real raptor in one-day races having already won three Tours of Flanders and three Paris-Roubaix. An extraordinary talent, the Dutchman, who has also won eight world championships in professional cross.

Clearly, with this CV, Van Der Poe, 31 years old, grandson of Raymond Poulidor and son of Andrie, a good rider in the 1980s, remains the super favourite. He himself, who prepared last week at the Tirreno Adriatico (2 wins), says he feels in great shape, adding that he is ready for the trio. Words that, in short, announce battle.

There is a though, though. And that though is called Pogacar. After what he did last year, after his last crushing victory at the Strade Bianche, the Slovenian seems to have no limits. A Martian capable of any feat. Too superior, too confident. A super-talented assisted by an extraordinary team (the Uae Emirates) and a lieutenant like the Mexican Isaac del Toro, second at the last Giro d'Italia and winner of the last Tirreno-Adriatico. Clearly, psychologically Pogacar also held the entire peloton in check. When Tadej gives the gas, nobody follows him anymore. Almost everyone is now racing for second place when he is there. One of the few who doesn't care is Van Der Poel himself, a true thoroughbred in the monument classics. But his rivalry with Pogacar ends there because in stage races, as far as the classification is concerned, there is no match. The Dutchman may win a few important stages, but he will never challenge the Slovenian on his own ground. The only one who has managed it so far is the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, winner of two Tours, who will participate in the next Giro d'Italia. However, the Dane does not touch the ball in the classics. In short, Pogacar is the absolute ruler of modern cycling.

He cannot yet compare with Eddy Merckx in terms of the number of victories (523, including seven Sanremo), but being only 27 years old he can aspire to eclipse him. Pogacar, in addition to his extraordinary racing skills, has another advantage: he does not suffer from pressure. Eddy Merckx, go and watch the footage, even when he won he often arrived at the finish line distraught. He suffered from rivalry with Gimondi or with Spanish climbers. In contrast, the Slovenian is smooth and smiling, as if he has just come out of the barber shop. With that perfumed smile of someone who, although he has reached the top, is not even tired. That is why Van Der Poel himself, who is also a giant, must be careful. Because he knows that Pogacar is capable of anything. Even to escape before the Poggio or the Cipressa. Of redoing one of those old cycling exploits, now forgotten by hyper-technological cycling.

And the Italians? Little to say. Apart from Filippo Ganna, who in this Sanremo, if convinced, can invent anything, the other Azzurri are on the sidelines. We had an excellent sprinter like Jonathan Milan, who could have made his mark in a sprint finish. But he forfeited for health reasons. So, apart from Ganna, there is little to get your hopes up. Our road cycling is worse off than our football. We are cornered in the sports that were more congenial and popular to us. The others put on a show in the Champions League or the Tour de France, we live on memories hoping that a Sinner will emerge from nowhere to reverse this sad drift.