Tadej Pogacar has achieved almost everything in cycling, but
not yet Milano-Sanremo. That could change today.
The Slovenian superstar starts as the favourite for the
first Monument of the 2025 season, a race he’s openly admitted is one he dreams
of winning. Alongside Paris-Roubaix and the Vuelta a España, Sanremo remains
one of the few top-tier victories missing from his glittering palmarès. But
2025 could be the year he ticks all three off, starting today on the Italian coast.
Speaking to Cycling Pro Net ahead of the race,
Pogacar opened up about his recent recovery, his preparation, and the elusive
challenge of cracking cycling’s most unpredictable classic.
“Yeah, I think I... I mean yeah, a few days I had to do easy
to recover and yeah, was not easy but now I’m here,” he said when asked about
how he was feeling post-crash. “I did some good trainings, some good recons and
yeah, we have good atmosphere in the team so I’m really looking forward to
start tomorrow and we are ready to fight for the victory.”
Asked how much he had re-familiarised himself with the
route, Pogacar explained that the roads of Sanremo are far from unfamiliar.
“I train sometimes there on the road because it's not so far
from where I live and yeah, I’ve been last few days there doing just training,
yeah, doing some speed training behind motor and testing the legs on the
Poggio. And yeah, just... it’s good to have more trainings on the parcours, more,
the better.”
But despite years of trying, the recipe for success in
Sanremo continues to evade him. Is 2025 the year he figures it out?
“I think once I will win this race we can call it that I
cracked [it], but until then I will try to find the recipe to win this race.”
Tactics in Sanremo are notoriously difficult to pin down,
and Pogacar knows that even the best-laid plans are at the mercy of
split-second decisions and team dynamics.
“There’s not too much choices, not too much opportunities.
But a lot depends on the race beforehand, how the team situation is going,” he
explained. “You can talk about tactics and where you want to try or what you
want to do, but in the end it’s so small details that can affect the race that
you cannot be... you need to be prepared for everything.”
And when asked whether an early attack, even on the Cipressa,
might be on the cards, Pogacar smiled.
“Yeah, it’s possible. Everything is possible. But if it’s a
good idea, I don’t know.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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