Slovenian Spring: Pogačar adds Sanremo to its Monument collection
Spring now speaks Slovenian, and once again its voice is Tadej Pogačar. At Milano-Sanremo 2026, the world champion finally claimed the Monument that had long escaped him, adding another extraordinary page to his legacy. He had chased this race for years, and this time he won it with the strength of the very greatest.
After the crash and chaos before the Cipressa, Pogačar came back even more determined. With his rainbow jersey torn and covered in dust, he lit up the race once again, forcing the decisive move and showing his class on both the Cipressa and the Poggio. Only Tom Pidcock could stay close all the way to Via Roma.
The Slovenian world champion, the first world champion to win the Classicissima since Giuseppe Saronni in 1983, turned an unexpected event into a feat: involved in a crash about 33 kilometers from the finish, he returned with clarity and strength, then ignited the race on the Cipressa and selected the finish on the Poggio.
There, on the finish line of the Classicissima, the Slovenian completed his masterpiece, winning the sprint and finally breaking Sanremo’s curse. It was not just another major victory: it was a historic triumph, one that added Milano-Sanremo to his Monument collection and made his legend even greater.
At the finish line on Via Roma he completed the masterpiece by beating Tom Pidcock in the sprint, with Wout van Aert third. A victory of character, class and history.
