Van der Poel outsprints Ganna and Pogacar for second Milan Sanremo triumph

Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) outsprinted Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogacar to win his second Milan-Sanremo Classic on Saturday, claiming the first Monument race of the season, a 289km ride from Pavia to Sanremo.

Van der Poel, winner in 2023, came out on top in the sprint finish after the leading trio were involved in a game of cat-and-mouse close to the line, with Italian Ganna finishing second and Slovenias Pogacar having to settle for third.

The race began in rainy conditions, but the sun greeted the riders once they reached the Ligurian coast, with an eight-man group out ahead after an early breakaway.

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 de Poel said.

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.

The Slovenian pushed again on Poggia, and while Van der Poel stuck to Pogacars wheel, Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) looked like he had run out of gas, but recovered to battle for the sprint finish.

Van der Poel bided his time before hitting the front in the home straight to win his seventh Monument race.

Just winning Milan-Sanremo is special but beating these two incredible riders, Im super happy and proud to be on the podium with them, the Dutchman said.

It was a bitter defeat for Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) who also came third last year, as last seasons Triple Crown winner of the Giro dItalia, Tour de France and World Championships failed to make his attacks count.

European champion