"I promise I will stay away from those roads for a while" - Tadej Pogacar jokes about staying away from Milano-Sanremo route after breakthrough win

Tom Pidcock said that Tadej Pogacar told him he would stay away from Milano-Sanremo after finally winning it this past weekend, jokingly, however, there is likely some truth to it. The Slovenian recognized the danger of the Italian roads and also felt it in his skin. Most likely, he will stay away from the area for a while after achieving his goal on the sixth attempt.

Much was said following his maiden Sanremo win, but amongst the many conclusions, one that could be taken away is that he may stay away from the race for a few years potentially, as the race is very difficult to win and as has been seen, is also extremely dangerous, especially on the approach to Cipressa.

He lives close to the area and has trained countless times on the same roads and climbs of the Italian monument, training specifically on these climbs where he was beating records as well as of late.

"It’s so hard to write anything after such a rollercoaster yesterday. I can’t express how grateful I am to be surrounded by great people to support through all the ups and downs," the World Champion said in an Instagram post. "But yesterday was something different, I don’t know what, but without certain people I would struggle to finish yesterday".

It was a hard-earned win after trying different tactics on a yearly basis. Attacking the Cipressa became the key, but a late crash seemed to derail that. However, defying all logic, he returned to the peloton, made it to the front and attacked almost in the same location as 12 months ago. After dropping Mathieu van der Poel on the Poggio di Sanremo, he then outsprinted Tom Pidcock on the Via Roma.

It is without a doubt one of the highlights of his career, and the fourth monument that has entered his palmarès. "Also, all the fans, sorry I can’t take all the time in the world for you, but you know how much I appreciate all of your shouting on the side of the road," he added.

"Special mention to Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert, honoured to battle with y'all. Carlos Sainz, I hope your love for cycling continues to grow (he refers to his friend and Formula 1 driver, who also discussed the relationship between the two, ed.)

Lastly, he also wrote about the roads around Sanremo, which have taken quite a bit of skin from his body this Saturday, and have been a big risk towards his Grand Tour campaigns for years. "And Urska Zigart, I promise I will stay away from those roads for a while".

Pogačar’s joke to Urška Žigart isn't just a witty social media caption; it’s a reflection of the mental and physical trauma that Milano-Sanremo inflicts on its favourites. For three years, Pogačar has been the 'tactical animator' of the Cipressa and Poggio, only to be neutralized by the sheer speed of the Via Roma. To finally win—and to do so after a crash that left his frame compromised - humanizes a rider often described as an 'alien.' By publicly promising to stay away, he is acknowledging the sheer danger of the approach to the Cipressa, a stretch of road that has become the most feared 10 kilometers in modern cycling.