The men's Milan-San Remo cycling race, a traditional and predictable event, witnessed Mathieu van der Poel's second consecutive triumph in 2023, changing the narrative of the race. Historically, outcomes have varied significantly, with winners ranging from sprinters to climbers, yet the course's structure has remained constant. This year’s race highlighted van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar's intense rivalry and marked a significant moment in cycling history. In contrast, the women’s race faced criticism for its flat conclusion, failing to create the same excitement as its male counterpart, illustrating the different dynamics in women's cycling.
The race's structural predictability lends itself to an unpredictability of outcome. You never knew who will win, but you know how they will win.
This past weekend's men's race not only ended with Mathieu van der Poel repeating his 2023 triumph, but saw a wholly different kind of finish.
It was the best Milan-San Remo I've seen in my time watching pro cycling, a testament to the greatness of both van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar.
The women's edition of the race was somewhat disappointing due to an anticlimactic finale that drew complaints from riders.
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