"Start a bit slower, then accelerate..." - Former Milano-Sanremo winner on how Tadej Pogacar and UAE should attack Cipressa
Cycling
Óscar Freire won Milano-Sanremo on three occasions: 2004, 2007 and 2010. He is now no longer a pro rider and although he is a sprinter, he knows how to win this race in all its scenarios. He as shared his point of view on how UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Tadej Pogacar should attack the race so as to try and take the victory.
“Pogacar is the best rider in the world. When someone like him targets a race, of course he can win it. But Sanremo is different. It doesn’t always reward the strongest," Freire argued in words to AS. “It depends a lot on the wind. If it’s against you, it’s very difficult to make a difference".
The 5.6-kilometer long Cipressa averages just over 4% and whilst the gradients are slightly higher in its first half, it is still a hard climb to make the difference. Pogacar did so last year with an all-out attack but was still not able to distance Mathieu van der Poel. Freire argues however that what's necessary is not to attack the climb right from the base, but instead use UAE's resources for a short and explosive leadout attack.
"Everyone talks about going full gas from the bottom of the Cipressa, but maybe the key is the opposite. Start a bit slower, then accelerate. That’s when you can break the group. If you go fast from the start, everyone just follows," the Spaniard argues.
The unpredictability of Milano-Sanremo
Last year Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narváez delivered an almost perfect leadout, within the scenario in which there is a high-speed positioning battle into the climb featuring many of the world's best. It will be hard to replicate this time around, however it is likely the plan - only with Isaac del Toro, Jan Christen and Brandon McNulty as the main weapons this time around.
“He has tried many ways already. Attacking on the Cipressa, on the Poggio, even in the descent. But it’s very hard to go alone from far out. You also need the right support, and positioning is crucial. Small efforts to move up, corner after corner, they cost you more than you think.”
“Van der Poel is incredibly strong and maybe faster, but he can have an off day. Pogacar almost never does. That’s why he always has a chance.”
Positioning into the Cipressa is just as important, and that's where Florian Vermeersch will have a key role. “You can lose Sanremo at any moment. There are crashes, nerves, positioning fights. Some years you arrive feeling great and nothing happens. Other times you don’t feel perfect and suddenly you are there in the finale. You don’t really know until the end.”
Freire also warns to the fatigue aspect, a key point as Pogacar, van der Poel, Pedersen and Ganna are all going to be present at Sanremo before they take on the cobbled classics as the main favourits. “I remember finishing and thinking I wasn’t tired. Then a few days later, I was completely empty," the veteran warns. "It was the stress. We all felt it, the riders fighting for the win.”
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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