"I am very aware that I have to be 110% fit to beat Pogacar" - Mathiue van der Poel speaks ahead of Milano-Sanremo battle with Pogacar and Ganna
Cycling
The countdown is nearly over. Milano-Sanremo, the first
Monument of the 2025 cycling season, is upon us, and all eyes are on Mathieu
van der Poel. Can he reclaim his throne?
The Alpecin-Deceuninck superstar conquered the monument in
2023 with a breath taking solo attack on the Poggio, and he returns to the
Italian classic eager to relive that glory. Speaking ahead of the race to l’Équipe
and La Gazzetta dello Sport, van der Poel reflected on his childhood
fascination with the unpredictable nature of Milano-Sanremo.
“As a child, I thought Milan-San Remo was one of the most
beautiful races to watch, because you never know what can happen,” he said.
“Winning in the Velodrome is super special, but triumphing on the Via Roma is
more emotional. In San Remo, you just don't know you're going to win until
you're in the last few dozen meters. That makes it more special.”
Despite being a previous winner of Paris-Roubaix, van der
Poel admits he may hold Sanremo in even higher regard. Its suspense, the way it
unfolds in the final kilometres, and the sheer unpredictability of the finish
have all left a lasting impression on him.
While much of the attention centres on van der Poel’s
budding rivalry with Tadej Pogacar, the Dutchman is quick to spread the
spotlight to other contenders, most notably Filippo Ganna.
“Ganna is Ganna. In the last two or three editions, he was
already one of the strongest riders on the Poggio. He seems to be in super
condition. Ganna will definitely be there in the final. It is not just about me
and Pogačar.”
His respect for Pogacar is clear, but van der Poel plays
down any talk of personal rivalry, pointing instead to self-preparation and
acceptance of outcomes.
“To be honest, I have a very good relationship with Tadej, I
don't really think about rivalry at all. I try to be in the best possible shape
for competitions. And if he - like in the Tour of Flanders 2023 - is better,
then that is something you have to deal with. I couldn't change that myself,
because I knew that I had done everything to be in the best possible shape. If
a rider is better, then it is what it is.”
With his palmarès already overflowing, van der Poel could be
forgiven for taking a more relaxed approach. But his mindset remains as sharp
as ever, and he knows the level required to win again.
“I have reached an age where I have achieved almost every
goal I set for myself. And even more. Everything that comes now, I see as a
bonus. Of course I still want to try to win the biggest races on earth, or
another Monument. I am still super motivated. And I am very aware that I have
to be 110% fit to beat Pogacar. That is always a good motivation.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- exactly, he had an amazing season, but with these overstatements they don‘t do him good.Ketterechts08-11-2026
- More to the point, it isn't his remaining goal.Renz08-11-2026
- lol yeahmij08-11-2026
- I know, their headlines can be so misleading. Pidcock had a great season with 5 wins. and some solid 2nds. no reason to take away from that with a fake headline.mij08-11-2026
- You can clearly see the the posture change from slightly sitting to again out of the saddle while changing of gears in the video of the sprintabstractengineer08-11-2026
- He has already beaten Pogi twice in the TDF. the achievement is over. He cannot beat Pogi now and he only has a few years left at the top. Win Giro and compete in the TDF, maximise palmares.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- Just looked again at the photo. Yeah I stand by that. If MS had fallen over in Brands direction I don’t even think she would have hit her. You must be a UCI race commissioner. I’ll be sure to check my sock height should I ever see you on a ride. Looks like everyone else on here sees what I see.mij08-11-2026
- I said looking at the photo it doesn’t appear she deviated. Chill out, not stating my word is the final judgement. Just commenting that based on the photo I don’t see it. And BTW the Dutch coach even said she didn’t impede her.mij08-11-2026
- Blah Blah Blah !frieders308-11-2026
- MS said she was changing gears so that caused her slight deviation. Nothing was intentional.frieders308-11-2026
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