"That’s his biggest chance": The confession from one of Van der Poel’s domestiques that may give hope to Pogacar at Milano-Sanremo

In 2026, one of Tadej Pogacar's main objectives will once again be to win the Milano-Sanremo for the first time. The Slovenian is not giving up on "La Classicissima", even though it doesn't suit him at all, and even less so with Mathieu van der Poel as his rival. However, in the 2025 edition, the UAE star came very close to unseating his rival.

One of Van der Poel's teammates on that day, Oscar Riesebeek, has revealed in an interview to Wielerrevue how much Van der Poel suffered to win that monument.

Riesebeek explains that Sanremo is unlike any other Monument. “The finale of Milano-Sanremo is known for having many possible outcomes, and even deep into the final different riders can still win.”

This unpredictability also shapes the leader’s mindset, as luck plays a much bigger role in Sanremo compared to other races. “You notice very little nervousness with Mathieu. In Sanremo you don’t always have to be the best rider in the race to win. In Lombardy it’s completely different, there the best rider always wins. I think that makes Mathieu relaxed. He knows better than anyone that you also need a bit of luck.”

Alpecin started the 2025 edition with a dual leadership (Van der Poel and Philipsen). However, the sprinter suffered an unfortunate incident that cost him the possibility to fight for the triumph. “Alongside Mathieu, Jasper Philipsen was also a leader, but he punctured in the finale. It cost a lot of energy to come back because the pace was extremely high. Then it was clear the race would be for Mathieu.”

Riesebeek was one of the last teammates with Van der Poel deep into the race, not only to close gaps but especially to keep him in the right place. “Mathieu doesn’t say much, but if he wants to move up he will let you know. Usually he makes the decisions in the race himself.”

Still, even a superstar sometimes needs a push. “He’s always very calm, so sometimes I tell him that I think it’s time to move up. In the Tour of Flanders we once ended up chasing and missed the first echelon. You always want to avoid that, and that’s my job. Mathieu focuses mainly on the finale.”

Ahead of the Cipressa, that plan was visible, with Riesebeek making sure to keep Van der Poel safe and in front of the bunch. “He’s very skilled, but heading into the finale he chose to stay in my wheel. He could sit a bit further back, but he wants to be completely at the front to reduce risks as much as possible. In those villages you have some very deep potholes, and he doesn’t want to get caught in the chaos.” For Sanremo, avoiding damage is part of the game.

Then came the moment that rarely appears on television but can break a team’s race. “On the Turchino I had to keep Mathieu at the front, which went well. We reached the coast and suddenly it got warm. Rain jackets and extra clothing had to come off, so we stopped briefly for a nature break. Pogacar stopped as well.”

And then, what followed was classic Sanremo chaos. “But then the peloton suddenly accelerated and we had to ride for a very long time to get back. I was there alone with Mathieu and no one helped us. That was definitely a difficult moment. It was a shame that other teams tried to profit from it. Maybe it motivated Mathieu even more.”

Riesebeek also watched the late-race duel between Tadej Pogacar and Van der Poel. Why did the Slovenian keep working with a faster sprinter? To him, the answer was obvious. “They both already have such big palmarès. They often end up in situations where riders don’t pull because they are the favourites. So they don’t do that to each other. They’re too proud to give it away because of tactical games.”

He added a warning for the future that might give much hope to Tadej. “And Pogacar isn’t slow, you know. He already beat Mathieu in a sprint this year at the Dauphiné. In the coming years he will try to drop Mathieu on the climbs. That’s his biggest chance.”