Mathieu van der Poel: 'It is only a matter of time before Pogacar wins Milan-Sanremo'
Mathieu van der Poel believes he is close to his best form ahead of Milan-Sanremo, but the defending champion knows the margin for error is razor thin. The Dutchman expects Tadej Pogacar to be one of the riders who could reshape the race and believes it is only a matter of time before the Slovenian wins the first Monument of the season.
A week ahead of Milan-Sanremo, Van der Poel appears to be in strong condition. The 31-year-old Alpecin-Premier Tech rider has already taken two stage wins at Tirreno-Adriatico, a race that traditionally serves as the final preparation for the Italian Monument.
“I don’t think I still have much to do,” Van der Poel told Sporza ahead of stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico. “I feel good and I’ve had a good preparation. I’m happy with my legs and with the feeling from this week. That’s all I needed.”
As often happens, many of the riders who could decide Milan-Sanremo are currently racing at Tirreno-Adriatico. But Van der Poel is careful not to read too much into the results of the Italian stage race.
“Whether the winner was riding here is still a question mark,” he said. “But usually it’s the same names that come up. Myself, Wout van Aert and Filippo Ganna.”
One rider who inevitably enters the conversation is Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian has repeatedly tried to change the dynamics of Milan-Sanremo with aggressive racing on the Cipressa and Poggio.
“In the past, you didn’t really have to start looking at the race on the Cipressa,” he said. “Tadej and UAE have definitely changed that.”
Despite the increasingly aggressive tactics seen in recent years, Van der Poel does not expect the race to open up even earlier on the course. “They once tried to make the race hard already on the Capi, but they mostly burned themselves doing that,” he said. “I don’t really believe in that approach.”
What he does believe is that Pogačar will eventually conquer the race. “Last year he was already very close,” Van der Poel said. “If I’m one percent less, Tadej is gone on the Cipressa. It’s only a matter of time before Pogačar wins that race.” Milan-Sanremo remains one of the two Monuments still missing from the Slovenian’s palmarès, alongside Paris-Roubaix.
When asked to choose between a third Milan-Sanremo victory after 2023 and 2025 or a fourth triumph in either the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, Van der Poel did not hesitate. “A fourth Ronde,” he said.
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