“In Tadej I see the same determination” - Eddy Merckx recognises himself in Pogacar but warns Van der Poel could still deny Milano-Sanremo dream

With anticipation building ahead of the 117th edition of Milano-Sanremo, Eddy Merckx believes Tadej Pogacar may finally have the chance to win the Monument that has repeatedly slipped from his grasp. But the seven-time winner of La Classicissima has also issued a clear warning: if Mathieu van der Poel survives the decisive climbs and reaches the finish alongside the world champion, the balance could shift quickly.

“For Pogacar it could be the right time, if he attacks at the right moment,” Merckx said in conversation with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Yet the Belgian legend also pointed to the level of the rider likely to stand in his way. “The Van der Poel we saw at Tirreno-Adriatico, not only because of the two stages he won, will not be easy to beat. Quite the opposite,” he explains. “Tadej must drop him, because after 300 kilometres if they are still together in Via Roma… the favourite would be Mathieu.”

That dilemma has defined Pogacar’s recent attempts to win Milano-Sanremo.

Unlike many of the Monuments he has already conquered, the race to Sanremo rarely offers terrain that guarantees a decisive selection. The key moments usually come on the Cipressa and the Poggio, where Pogacar has repeatedly tried to break the race open in recent editions.

Last year provided the clearest example of that approach. Pogacar launched a fierce attack on the Cipressa and forced a decisive split, but only Mathieu van der Poel and Filippo Ganna were able to remain with him. Despite further accelerations from the Slovenian on the Poggio, the trio arrived together in Sanremo, where Van der Poel proved fastest in the sprint on Via Roma.

Merckx believes the Poggio remains Pogacar’s most likely opportunity to finally make the difference. “On the Poggio,” he said when asked where the Slovenian should attack. “Even though he can drop everyone on the Cipressa, last year only Van der Poel and Ganna were able to stay with him.”

Yet the seven-time winner also highlighted the risk attached to Pogacar’s aggressive racing style. “He is capable of making long attacks, but at Sanremo the chances of being caught again are higher.”

Weather conditions can also play a role. “If there were a strong headwind on the Cipressa, it would become very difficult to make the difference. Even for Tadej Pogacar.”

While Merckx stopped short of drawing full comparisons between generations, he admitted Pogacar’s racing mentality reminds him of his own approach.

“There were days when I won with a big advantage over everyone, such as Liege in 1969 or the Tre Cime di Lavaredo stage at the Giro in 1968,” Merckx explained. “In Tadej, I see the same determination. But let us stop there, because I do not like comparisons, especially when different eras are being compared.”

Even so, Merckx acknowledged the Slovenian’s current dominance in the sport. “That he is number one!” he said when reflecting on Pogacar’s fourth victory at Strade Bianche earlier this month. “But it is clear that at Sanremo, because of the characteristics of the race, his task will be more difficult.”

While the spotlight will once again fall on the rivalry between Pogacar and Van der Poel, Merckx also pointed to another rider who has already shown he can challenge for victory.

“If he has finished second twice, it means he has the legs to win,” Merckx said of Filippo Ganna, who has twice finished runner-up at Milano-Sanremo. “It seems to me that compared to 2025, he has tried to move the timing of his first major peak of form slightly later, since he is also targeting Paris-Roubaix. On Saturday, we will see whether that choice has paid off or not.”

This year’s race also carries special significance for Merckx himself. It marks fifty years since his seventh and final victory at Milano-Sanremo in 1976, a record that still stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in cycling history.

The Belgian confirmed he will once again be watching closely. “I will be at home in Belgium, in front of the television watching it,” he said. “I don’t think I have ever missed one.”

Whether Pogacar can finally add Milano-Sanremo to his palmares remains one of the central questions heading into this year’s race. But as Merckx made clear, if Van der Poel is still alongside him when the race reaches Via Roma, the advantage may once again lie with the Dutchman after nearly 300 kilometres of racing.