Milan-San Remo Disrupted by Crash Involving Top Contenders

The 2026 Milan-San Remo race saw a significant crash with 32km remaining, impacting the ambitions of several key riders including Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel. The incident occurred as the peloton navigated a bend in Imperia, a notoriously fast and challenging section of the course leading to the Cipressa climb.

The Crash and Immediate Aftermath

World Champion Tadej Pogačar was among those caught in the crash, sustaining torn shorts and abrasions to his leg. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), Biniam Girmay (NSN), and Giulio Pellizzarri (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) similarly went down in the pile-up. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) was held up by the crash and appeared to suffer cuts to his right hand.

Despite the fall, Pogačar quickly rejoined the peloton, aided by teammates Brandon McNulty and Florian Vermeersch, reaching the group as the ascent of the Cipressa began. He then moved to the front, with McNulty setting a strong pace.

Riders’ Reactions and Resilience

Pogačar described the crash as “unfortunate,” noting the narrow roads and the high speed leading to the Cipressa. He recounted a chaotic moment, describing being “in a sandwich” and taking several riders down with him. He expressed concern for the well-being of those involved, emphasizing that crashes are an unfortunate part of cycling.

Pogačar also shared a moment of doubt after the crash, briefly considering abandoning the race before being motivated by his team’s support. “One of the first thoughts was ‘it is all over…I just go in the car,’” he said, but the encouragement from his team spurred him to continue.

Tom Pidcock, who finished second, acknowledged Pogačar’s fighting spirit, stating, “Tadej crashed, I looked at him and he was still there fighting every way to try and win this race. I have massive respect for that!”

Wout van Aert, despite crashing and needing a bike change before the Cipressa, managed to secure a third-place finish. He expressed satisfaction with his result, given the circumstances, stating he had “reached the maximum possible.”

Van der Poel’s Injury and Perspective

Mathieu van der Poel revealed he sustained a hand injury in the crash, attributing it to another rider colliding with him. He described the pain as significant, though he believed the damage wasn’t severe. Van der Poel finished eighth overall and noted he wasn’t feeling his best on the Cipressa and Poggio.

“I am quite disappointed,” Van der Poel told HLN.be. “A bike from Lidl-Trek flew towards me [in the crash]. I couldn’t avoid it anymore.”

Pogačar’s Winning Strategy and Reflections

After regaining contact with the peloton, Pogačar launched an attack on the Poggio alongside Tom Pidcock, ultimately winning the race. He admitted to being surprised he was able to drop Mathieu van der Poel on the climb, attributing it to favorable wind conditions. He also acknowledged Pidcock’s strong form and fast sprint, admitting he wasn’t certain he could beat him in a head-to-head sprint.

Pogačar described his victory as “definitely one of the biggest wins in my career,” but added he needed time to fully process the result.

Looking Ahead

Mathieu van der Poel is expected to race at the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday, where he has a strong track record, never finishing off the podium in four appearances. Pogačar’s next race schedule was not specified.