Want to own a unique piece of cycling history? Tadej Pogacar auctions torn Milano-Sanremo winning jersey for charity
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s long-awaited Milano-Sanremo triumph is already etched into the sport’s recent history. Now, a physical piece of that moment is being offered to the public, with a growing price tag to match its significance.
The Slovenian’s race-worn, crash-damaged rainbow jersey from the 2026 edition is currently up for auction, with bidding having already reached €26,000 at the time of writing. “This is that jersey,” read a post from the Tadej Pogacar Foundation on Instagram. “At Milano–Sanremo 2026, Tadej Pogacar crashed 32 km before the finish, continued with a damaged bike and a torn jersey, and still won.”
A Monument moment, captured in fabric
Few jerseys carry a story quite like this one. Milano-Sanremo had long stood as the one Monument that continued to elude Pogacar, despite repeated attempts to force the race into his terrain on the Cipressa and Poggio. In 2026, that finally changed, but not without adversity.
Caught in a crash in the run-in to the Cipressa, Pogacar was left chasing back with visible damage to both his bike and his rainbow jersey, torn along the left side. From a position of disadvantage in a race where timing and placement are everything, he still returned to the front and went on to win. That combination of misfortune and recovery is exactly what gives the jersey its weight. It is not just race-worn, but race-defining.
Signed, preserved, and doubling in impact
The jersey is being auctioned exactly as it was worn that day and has been signed by Pogacar and all of his teammates. “We are auctioning the original race-worn piece, exactly as it was that day,” the foundation confirmed. “The winning amount will be doubled by Tadej and donated to his Foundation, supporting children and young people in need.”
With a starting bid of €1,000, the figure has already climbed rapidly, reflecting both the uniqueness of the item and Pogacar’s standing in the sport. The auction will run until the start of Paris-Roubaix, extending the story of Milano-Sanremo into the next Monument on the calendar.
Tadej Pogacar crosses the line at Milano-Sanremo 2026
Potentially the last of its kind
There is also a layer of uncertainty that adds further significance. “If I come back, it will only be to eat focaccia...” Pogacar said in a recent interview when asked about future appearances at Milano-Sanremo.
Whether said lightly or not, it leaves open the possibility that this could stand as his final appearance at the race. If that proves to be the case, the jersey becomes not just a symbol of a breakthrough victory, but a closing chapter as well.
From a long pursuit to a defining win, and now to a charitable cause, the story of Pogacar’s Milano-Sanremo continues to evolve. With the current bid already at €26,000 and rising, its value, both symbolic and financial, is still growing.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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