“Van der Poel will stay with Pogacar, Pogacar will not drop him” - Johan Bruyneel backs Dutchman ahead of Milano-Sanremo showdown

The duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar is once again expected to shape the finale of Milano-Sanremo, but Johan Bruyneel believes the Dutchman currently holds the advantage.

Speaking on The Move podcast ahead of the first Monument of the season, the former team manager predicted that Pogacar’s trademark attacks may not be enough to distance his rival on the decisive climbs of the Cipressa and Poggio.

“I already dare to predict that Van der Poel will stay with Pogacar at Milano-Sanremo," predicts Bruyneel confidently. "Pogacar will not be able to drop him.”

The Slovenian has repeatedly tried to force the race open in recent editions by attacking on the climbs that precede the finish in Sanremo. Yet Bruyneel believes Van der Poel’s current condition means those accelerations will be far harder to turn into a decisive move.

Bruyneel explained that his confidence in the Alpecin rider is based not only on race results but also on what he has heard from within the peloton itself. “I have information from within the peloton that his current level of form is really scary. That he is better than ever.”

Van der Poel already displayed strong form earlier this month at Tirreno-Adriatico, where he claimed two stage victories. But for Bruyneel, the Dutchman’s riding during the race hinted at something even more significant.

One of the most discussed moments of the Italian stage race came during the final stage, when Van der Poel spent extended periods driving the pace at the front of the peloton.

Some observers criticised the move, suggesting the effort ultimately distanced his own team’s sprinter from the action. Bruyneel, however, interpreted the situation very differently. “He wanted to turn it into one last hard training session and make the peloton suffer.”

According to the Belgian, the effort was not a mistake but a calculated move designed to push Van der Poel’s condition to another level ahead of the spring Monuments. “It was coordinated with the team.”

The objective, in Bruyneel’s view, was less about winning the stage and more about delivering one final high-intensity effort before the major classics begin.

If Bruyneel’s prediction proves correct, the tactical challenge facing Pogacar will remain unchanged.

The Slovenian has repeatedly attempted to transform Milano-Sanremo into a selective battle by launching explosive attacks on the Cipressa and Poggio. But with Van der Poel widely regarded as one of the fastest finishers among the favourites, the key question remains whether Pogacar can create a decisive gap before the race reaches the streets of Sanremo. Bruyneel, however, believes that scenario is unlikely.

If Van der Poel’s condition is indeed as strong as the Belgian suggests, the Dutchman could once again find himself alongside his great rival when the race reaches its decisive finale on Via Roma.