Mathieu van der Poel clinched his second Milan-Sanremo Classic title, triumphing in a close sprint against Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogacar. This race marked the first Monument of the season, beginning in rain but concluding under sunny skies on the Ligurian coast. Following an early breakaway, Pogacar made significant moves on both the Cipressa and Poggio climbs, but Van der Poel remained strategically positioned to overtake in the final stretch. In the women's event, Lorena Wiebes secured victory, underscoring a successful day for Dutch cyclists in this historic competition.
I felt really good actually at the end, the beginning was horrible with the rain and the cold but when we came down to the coast I started to feel better, Van der Poel said. Just winning Milan-Sanremo is special but beating these two incredible riders, I'm super happy and proud to be on the podium with them.
It was a bitter defeat for Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) who also came third last year, as last season's Triple Crown winner of the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships failed to make his attacks count.
Van der Poel's victory made it a Dutch double as Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) outsprinted her compatriot Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) at the end of the 156km ride from Genoa.
Once the peleton upped the pace the leaders were reeled in at the bottom of the Cipressa climb, where Pogacar, aiming for his first Milan-Sanremo win, made his move with only Van der Poel and Ganna able to keep pace.
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