A monument for the ages

02/04/25 23:07 Filed in: Riding

As I write this, Milan-San Remo was last weekend and the coverage of the last few kilometres was stellar. Three top cyclists (all world champions) trying to use their particular strengths against the other two to win the longest (and one of the biggest) one-day races of each year. At 280 km, few races approach MSR for distance. Starting (near) Milan, they head quite promptly down to the Ligurian coast and ride along the coast road to San Remo. As is typical for most coastal roads, it isn't flat all the time. Some obstacles crop up that require a road to go up and down to get around them. Some of these lumps are all-time famous in pro cycling. Cipressa and Poggio are two climbs near the end of MSR that can make or break the race for riders.
Mathieu and Tadej were away together. Ganna was bridging on the descent of the Poggio to San Remo. The three came together with around 1 km to go. They didn't have to worry about the group catching them so they could play silly games and try to win. Both Pogi and Ganna dropped back a bit to watch VDP. He timed it perfectly and with a good stiff tailwind, went with 300 m to go. No one could come around him and he won.

Pogacar was strong, but there was no terrain that gave him a natural advantage. Van der Poel had done the preparation and was the only rider who could stay with Pogacar when he attacked. After almost 300 km, no one had great sprinting legs at the end. Decisive strategy was the deciding factor. On a headwind, going that early would have been suicide. But it's hard to come around in a tail wind.

There are tens of different coverage "cuts" on YouTube. If you haven't seen it yet, and you have any interest in road cycling, go watch this master class in race finishing.

Michael Hanslip Coaching

If you want to go faster, you have to pedal harder

A monument for the ages