"Scared? No, I'm not" - Mathieu van der Poel ready to take on Tadej Pogacar at Milano-Sanremo
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel is the defending champion of Milano-Sanremo and a big contender for victory this Saturday. Tadej Pogacar will be his main competitor in the Italian classic but he is ready for the expected battle at the Poggio di Sanremo.
"If I could change something, I would like a little more peace. No, I am very happy with how the preparation went. Ideally I would have ridden a stage race for Sanremo, but last year it was a bit rushed working towards the Strade Bianche," Van der Poel said in a press release ahead of the race. "I can race well even without competitions. Although I think I can do just that little bit more. But if I can win one monument without rhythm, it is Milano-Sanremo."
Two years ago van der Poel began his season in this very race after a winter affected by a back injury, and rode to third. There is no doubt that he is a rider well suited to this race; and last year he absolutely thrived every time the riders faced long distances.
He will have to deal with a strong UAE Team Emirates, who will certainly push the pace from early to try and shred the field. Tadej Pogacar, who won in incredible style at Strade Bianche, will be the Dutchman's biggest rival on the road. "He has impressed again. But scared? No, I'm not. It was punishment, but it didn't shock me. We all know what he is capable of. It cannot be compared to Saturday's race. He is the favorite, like in every race he starts."
Van der Poel made the trip over to Italy some days ago and explored the route. He's given the descents the proper attention they deserve; taking into consideration that downhill attacks have on occasion decided the winner here.
"That's why I explored again. The descents of the Cipressa and Poggio are important to freshen up. Not at full speed, of course, because then you quickly get into trouble with traffic We'll see how it goes," he concludes.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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Almost time for the first monument of the season. Two more sleeps until @Milano_Sanremo! We are excited for the return of world champion @mathieuvdpoel 🌈 This is our lineup, with obviously Mathieu as the outspoken leader, surrounded by six strong teammates #alpecindeceuninck
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