OPINION | The main conclusion of an historical Milano-Sanremo - Cycling needs Jonas Vingegaard
Cycling
Milano - Sanremo 2025 has entered the cycling history books by the front door. Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Filippo Ganna left a memorable battle that began in Cipressa, intensified on the Poggio, and capitulated in an unforgettable sprint at Via Roma.
Even with the hangover from the race, there is one big main conclusion that trumps them all when it comes to the health of the sport as a competition: Cycling needs Jonas Vingegaard.
The final 30 kilometers of Milano - Sanremo will be remembered for a lifetime. It all started with Tadej Pogacar's attack on Cipressa, which only his two rivals could follow. As a result, he broke the all-time record on the climb, going under 9 minutes and finishing in 8:55.
Pogacar had practically the perfect race to win. The Slovenian was coming off a few months in which he has been completely unbeatable. When he attacked, no one was able to get by him. Rivals were beginning to feel that the UAE star had become an invincible rider. Until Van der Poel proved again that, despite everything, he is still human.
What does this have to do with Vingegaard? It is very spectacular to see Tadej Pogacar win races with such ease. But none of the ones he's taken, not even the 2024 World Championships with an attack with 100 kilometers to go, is as nice as one where you find the rivalry he's had in this Milan-San Remo.
Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel arrived at the Poggio face to face. On the climb, the Slovenian attacked more than 5 times, trying to go solo because he knew he had little chance in the sprint. But not a single move hurt the Dutchman. In fact, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider said after his victory that he knew he had the win in the bag as soon as they crested the climb.
That's why, for fans, the best thing that could happen is that Jonas Vingegaard returns to his best. Battles like the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France are much more beneficial to cycling than the 2024 edition, where Pogacar won outright with 6 stage wins under his belt in addition.
Cycling, like any sport, thrives on the best rivalries. Vingegaard's 2025 has not started particularly well. He won the Volta ao Algarve on the last day and suffered badly throughout the race. Then, in Paris-Nice, he was beaten by João Almeida in the first summit finish. He also abandoned the race due to a crash when he was leading the general classification and will not be racing the Volta a Catalunya either as a result.
The Dane's next race (confirmed, he hasn't necessarily finished his spring schedule, ed.) will already be the Criterium du Dauphiné, where Tadej Pogacar will also ride this year. The mythical preparation race for the Tour de France will feel more crucial than ever this 2025.
All the fans hope and need Vingegaard to be able to match Pogacar as well as Mathieu van der Poel has been in this Milano - Sanremo. In addition, it is worth remembering that they will also face each other in the Vuelta a España, barring any surprises, and in the World Championships. So, if all goes well, in 2025 alone there will be 4 new chapters of the rivalry between the two superstars.
Original: Jorge Borreguero
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- Sweet. Who's next on the next episode of Disgraced Ex-Doper Offers an Unsolicited Opinion?critguy26-03-2025
- well, paris-roubaix isn’t hilly AT ALL. it’s flat. the obstacle isn’t the hills it’s the cobbles, and what i’ve gathered over the years is that it’s almost impossible to imagine the beating that the body takes riding that course at race pace.OCexile26-03-2025
- Is Paris Roubaix hilly enough for Pogi to crack the other classics guys? Bring it on, it's going to be an exciting show!Ride197426-03-2025
- I don't care if you comment on LA articles. But it's counterproductive to do so, the more comments, the more clicks, the more such articles there will bevappaxbipmv26-03-2025
- I love listening to Geraint Thomas, he is such a great sportsman.awp26-03-2025
- Liege or Amstel are a little different. Only he knows what really works for him. I'm a bit disappointed that he is not going to focus on any other races potentially until the Dauphine. If you don't have race days in the legs no matter how good you are it generally gives a negative result. I had argued that he knew what works for him the other day but he seems to have maybe a mental block or is still a bit gun shy from last year's crash, which to be honest, was pretty bad. He might be in his last season or two. I hope not because he can still do quite a bit of winning if he gets his head right.awp26-03-2025
- Do you need a tissue since I seem to have offended you with my comment?frieders326-03-2025
- You mean Liege or Amstel or Flech doesn't play to his abilities ? That's a cop out !frieders326-03-2025
- He beat a field of second rate sprinters....yawn!frieders326-03-2025
- He didn't beat any top class sprinters in this race so slow the roll!frieders326-03-2025