🚴‍♂️ Tadej Pogacar’s Quest for the Missing Monument: Will 2026 Finally Be His Year at Milano–Sanremo?
At just 27, Tadej Pogacar’s resume is already the stuff of cycling legend. A multiple Tour de France champion and World Champion, the Slovenian phenom has conquered nearly every challenge the sport has thrown his way. But there’s one glaring gap in his trophy case: Milano–Sanremo. And this is the part most people miss—despite his dominance, this Italian Monument has proven to be his white whale.
The race, famous for its iconic climbs like the Cipressa and the Poggio, seems tailor-made to test Pogacar’s limits. Its deceptively gentle route often leaves sprinters fresh enough to outpace him in the final kilometers, a reality that’s kept him from the top step of the podium. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Pogacar’s relentless reliance on brute strength his greatest asset—or his biggest weakness here?**
Former Milano–Sanremo winner Vincenzo Nibali (https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/vincenzo-nibali-knows-exactly-why-tadej-pogacar-never-won-milano-sanremo) believes Pogacar needs to rethink his approach. While his power is undeniable, Nibali argues that tactical finesse is the key to cracking this race. Pogacar’s recent history supports this: in the last four editions, he’s consistently finished in the top five, including two third-place finishes, yet victory remains elusive.
Take 2025, for example. Pogacar launched blistering attacks on both the Poggio and the Cipressa, fueled by a strong team lead-out. But Mathieu van der Poel and Filippo Ganna matched his moves, leaving him to settle for a near miss in the sprint. It’s a pattern that raises questions: Can raw power alone conquer Milano–Sanremo, or does Pogacar need to evolve his strategy?
Pogacar isn’t backing down. With 2026 in his sights, he spent a recent Saturday meticulously reconnoitering the finale (https://x.com/BikeBlz/status/2008170415793819760?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008170415793819760%7Ctwgr%5E7cf227b65f956c8a23915e3258aae86b07b03d17%7Ctwcon%5Es1&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wielerflits.nl%2Fnieuws%2Fde-tegenstand-is-gewaarschuwd-tadej-pogacar-nu-al-gespot-op-de-poggio%2F), pushing himself to the limit on the Poggio to fine-tune every detail. Will this dedication finally pay off? We’ll find out on March 21, when Milano–Sanremo serves as just his second race of the season, following Strade Bianche on March 7. And beyond Sanremo, Pogacar’s ambitions don’t stop—Paris-Roubaix, another Monument missing from his collection, is also on his radar.
What do you think? Can Pogacar’s sheer strength carry him to victory, or does he need to embrace a more tactical approach? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over!
