“If I come back, it will only be to eat focaccia...” – Tadej Pogacar hints he may never return to Milano-Sanremo after long-awaited win
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s long pursuit of Milano-Sanremo finally ended in victory, but the immediate feeling after the finish was not one of ambition for more. Instead, it was relief.
After years of targeting the race, training on its roads, and repeatedly coming close without winning, Pogacar made clear that the effort required to conquer La Primavera had taken a significant toll. “Now I can stop going to San Remo every week or even two times a week to train. It’s really hard mentally to go training to San Remo all winter,” he said after the race in comments to Cycling News.
A Monument that demanded more than most
Milano-Sanremo has long stood apart from the other Monuments, not only because of its length and unpredictability, but because of how difficult it is to control.
For Pogacar, that challenge extended beyond race day itself. His preparation involved repeated recon rides and a constant focus on a race that had continued to slip just out of reach. “This race costs a lot of effort, also mentally. It’s one of the most unpredictable races I’ve ever done. I think it is one of the most unpredictable races in the world.”
That unpredictability had defined his previous attempts. Despite arriving as one of the strongest riders in the world, Pogacar had often found rivals able to follow his moves and force the race into scenarios that did not suit him.
Relief after years of pressure
That context shaped his reaction after finally winning the race. “It’s quite a relief to finally win it. It’s been many years of training around here, and I will miss it.”
The comment carried a hint of contradiction. The satisfaction of winning was clear, but so too was the sense that the process of getting there had been demanding enough to make him reconsider how often he wants to repeat it.
That idea became even clearer when he addressed the possibility of returning in future. “If I come back to San Remo it will only be to eat focaccia...”
Tom Pidcock (L), Tadej Pogacar (M) and Wout van Aert (R) stand on the Milano-Sanremo podium
A chapter closed, attention shifts forward
While the comment was delivered with a smile, it underlined a broader point. With Milano-Sanremo now secured, Pogacar no longer needs to shape his season around one of the few races missing from his palmares.
Instead, his focus can shift elsewhere. “I’m just so happy now that I’ve won San Remo that whatever comes next is fine, I will not beat my head or anything.”
That does not mean a lack of ambition. Pogacar made clear that he will continue to target the biggest races in the coming weeks. “Of course, the shape is good, and I will go to Flanders and Roubaix with a strong team. And we go for the win in both races.”
From obsession to completion
For years, Milano-Sanremo had been one of the defining challenges of Pogacar’s career, a race that resisted him despite his dominance elsewhere. Now that the barrier has fallen, the tone has shifted.
The comments do not suggest a firm decision to stay away in the future, but they do reflect the weight that the race carried while it remained unconquered.
Pogacar has finally won Milano-Sanremo. The work that went into that achievement is now behind him. Whether he returns or not, the objective has been achieved.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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