The Classicissima 2026 is here. This Saturday, March 21, the professional peloton faces the longest and most exciting 298 kilometers on the cycling calendar in the 117th edition of the Milan-San Remo 2026. The first Monument of the season once again presents itself as the perfect setting for one of the most anticipated duels in contemporary cycling: Mathieu van der Poel, two-time defending champion, against Tadej Poga?ar, the best runner in the world who is still chasing this elusive victory.

This year’s edition is held on Saturday March 21, 2026. The planned Milan-Sanremo schedule places the departure at 10:00 am (CET)with a Estimated arrival at Via Roma in San Remo around 4:37 p.m.-4:55 p.m., depending on the pace of the race.

Why does it leave Pavia and not Milan?

Milan-San Remo 2026 starts again away from Milan. It is not a one-time solution, but a consolidated decision. The organization has set Pavia as a starting point at least until 2027confirming that the change has gone from being an alternative to becoming part of the current career model.

Located about 35 kilometers south of Milan, Pavia offers a more manageable start from an organizational point of view. But the choice does not respond only to sporting issues, but also to economic balance. The city pays the organization an annual cost (€100,000) to host the event, which allows RCS Sport to guarantee the logistical viability of the event.

This change also has a real effect on career. The start from Pavia introduces a cleaner first section, with less urban interference, which favors a more stable development in the first kilometers. Even so, it does not alter the essence of the test and the wear continues to accumulate from the beginning and the sensation of “long approach” to the coast remains intact.

For fans wondering where to watch Milan-San Remo 2026, in Spain Eurosport (also available through Max) will offer the full broadcast from the start in Pavia, with intensified coverage in the final hours.

Although the race route undergoes variations in each edition, the Milan-San Remo 2026 maintains the classic formula that has defined this race for more than a century. Are 298 kilometers of increasing tensionwhere the first few hours serve as a silent prelude before the race explodes.

The Turchino Pass and the Riviera

After the start, the platoon heads southwest along mostly flat roads until reaching the Passo del Turchino, located approximately halfway along the route. In the early days of the race, this ascension of 26 km at 1.5% was decisive; today it works more like an initial filter which generates the first nerves before the descent towards Genoa Voltri and the Ligurian coast.

From there, the route winds westwards along the Mediterranean. Varazze, Savona and Albenga lead the way as the peloton regroups and positions begin to matter.

The Three Capi: Mele, Cervo and Berta

About 50 kilometers from the finish line, the Tre Capi appear, three small coastal peaks that wear down the group:

• Capo Mele (1.7 km at 4.2%) – 51.6 km to go
• Capo Cervo (1.9 km at 2.6%) – 47.5 km to go
• Capo Berta (1.8 km at 7.1%) – 39.5 km to go

None of these climbs are selective on their own, but their accumulation is tightening the peloton and positioning the favorites for the decisive stretch.

The Climb to the Cipressa (The first filter)

22 kilometers from the finish line the climb to the Cipressa: 5.6 km at 4.1% average gradient until reaching 240 meters of altitude in the town that gives it its name. This is where the underdogs launch desperate attacks, although the race is rarely decided on its ramps.

The problem for the attackers is the ten flat kilometers that separate the Cipressa from the Poggio, where an organized peloton can neutralize almost any advantage. Even so, the Cipressa has gained prominence in recent years: Poga?ar already showed in 2025 that he is willing to attack here to break the race early.

The descent of the Cipressa also deserves respect. The descent through SP77 is extremely technical, with tight curves that require absolute precision. Italian Niccolò Bonifazio reached breakneck speeds here in his day; Jan Raas, on the other hand, saw his career cut short after a fall in 1984 that left him with permanent back problems.

The Poggio di Sanremo Profile (Where everything is decided)

The Poggio di Sanremo is the final judge of the Classicissima. Their 3.7 km at 3.7% average They begin 9 kilometers from the finish line and concentrate all the tension accumulated for almost 290 kilometers.

The Poggio di Sanremo profile presents four horseshoe curves in the first two kilometers, with the road progressively narrowing. Just before crowning, the gradient steepens to 8%the point where decisive attacks usually occur. In 2025, it was exactly here that Van der Poel surprised Poga?ar with a lightning acceleration 300 meters from the summit.

The subsequent descent is as decisive as the rise. Technical, narrow and with treacherous curves, it demands nerves of steel and absolute skill. Runners like Matej Mohori? They have shown that a brave descent can compensate for shortcomings on the way up.

After the descent, the last two flat kilometers run along straight roads until the left turn at 850 meters from the finish line and the characteristic right turn at 750 meters that leads to the legendary Via Roma.

Milan-San Remo has long ceased to be a race for sprinters. It is no longer enough to be the fastest or the strongest on a specific climb. Today, the one who best understands when to move wins, and in that field the name of Mathieu van der Poel stands out above the rest.

The Dutchman not only arrives as the current winner, but as the runner who has best deciphered the new race script. His ability to absorb attacks on the Poggio and respond with the same aggressiveness allows him to compete without depending too much on external factors such as wind or race pace.. Even when Poga?ar has tried to push the race to the limit, Van der Poel has shown that he can follow him without panicking and, at the key moment, change the role from pursuer to attacker. This time control is what makes him the great reference.

Furthermore, his state of form seems aligned with that objective. He has shown solidity at the start of the season and arrives with a very measured preparation, something essential in a test where accumulated wear outweighs any specific data. around you, Alpecin-Deceuninck features a block that allows you to run without pressure. If the race is not broken, they have speed to resolve; If it hardens, they continue to have a presence in the front group.

On the other side is Tadej Poga?arthe rider who has pushed the most to change the nature of the Milan-San Remo. His relationship with this race is almost obsessive and he is always focused on the outcome, but he always lacks that last step. The evolution of his approach is evident. He has gone from waiting for the Poggio to trying to blow up the race much earlier, especially in the Cipressa, where he seeks to eliminate the sprinters and reduce the group to a more favorable scenario.

However, its margin remains minimal. The very structure of the course works against them, because even after a forceful attack on the Cipressa, there is enough ground for the group to reorganize before the Poggio.

In this balance it appears Filippo Ganna, a runner who never seems to dominate the race but always ends up being part of it. His opportunity lies in a reduced ending where he can play his cards without having to have been the strongest in the raise.

In parallel, there are profiles that do not start as absolute favorites, but that can alter the development of the race, such as Wout van Aert. His profile fits perfectly with what the career demands, but his recent performance leaves doubts. Tom Pidcock is also one of them. His ability to move outside the script, especially on the descent of the Poggio, makes him a constant threat. The race does not need to follow a logical pattern, and in fact the more chaotic it is, the more chances it has of appearing at the decisive moment.

The Duel Van der Poel vs Poga?ar San Remo 2026

In the end, everything comes back to the same point: Milan-San Remo is not decided by who attacks, but by which attack achieves continuity. If the race really breaks down before the Poggio, the scenario favors a rider like Poga?ar. If everything remains under control until the last climb, the terrain tilts towards Van der Poel again. And if there is regrouping, the range opens up and completely different profiles come into play.