“Mathieu van der Poel has Tadej’s number” - UAE boss Matxin hails Dutchman as Pogacar’s “worthy rival” ahead of Milano-Sanremo

For UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the task at Milano-Sanremo is not simply about how Tadej Pogacar wins, but about overcoming the one rider who has consistently matched him when it matters most.

Speaking to TNT Sports, team boss Joxean Matxin made clear that Mathieu van der Poel remains central to that equation, not just as a rival, but as a reference point for what Pogacar must overcome.

“Van der Poel always remains true to himself,” Matxin said, describing the Dutchman as a “worthy rival”, but expanding further on that respect. He is “a respectful rival, respected by us, who always competes in the most sportsmanlike manner possible.”

That admiration, however, does not dilute the competitive edge. “And if we ever have to beat him, may it be in that same way.”

Milano-Sanremo has become a race of increasingly small differences for Pogacar, with recent editions showing just how close he has come without being able to deliver the decisive move.

Matxin framed that gap in simple terms. “Pogacar can win if he increases that 1%.”

It is not a question of rewriting the plan, but of executing it with absolute precision. Pogacar has already demonstrated he can make the race selective, particularly on the Cipressa, but turning that into a winning advantage has remained just out of reach.

At the heart of that challenge is Van der Poel’s ability to read and respond to Pogacar’s moves. “He has Tadej’s number, he knows his own game,” Matxin said, underlining the familiarity that has developed between the two in recent Monuments.

But that understanding is backed up by raw performance as well. “He is an important rider in professional cycling, who generates so much expectation, just like Tadej,” Matxin added, pointing to the stature both riders now hold within the sport.

That dynamic has played out repeatedly. Pogacar raises the intensity of the race, but Van der Poel has shown he can absorb those efforts and still arrive at the decisive moments in contention.

Matxin also pointed to the specific demands of Milano-Sanremo as a key factor in that balance. “Beating him in a race like Milano-Sanremo is very difficult,” he said, highlighting how the structure of the race leaves little room to create decisive gaps.

Even when the race is reduced to a small group, the final kilometres often favour riders who can recover quickly and finish strongly, a scenario that has repeatedly worked in Van der Poel’s favour.

Despite that, the objective for UAE remains unchanged. “We’ll try to reverse the result this year,” Matxin said.

That ambition reflects both confidence and realism. Pogacar does not need to prove he can shape the race, but he does need to find a way to turn that strength into a clear advantage against the one rival who has consistently been able to follow.

At Milano-Sanremo, that is the difference that continues to define everything.