Predictions from the Milan-San Remo favorites: Did a UAE rider accidentally reveal their bold San Remo tactics at the airport?

Saturday, March 22, 2025, late afternoon. That time slot is likely already blocked in the calendars of many cycling fans—that's when the peloton lights up the Cipressa and Poggio in the thrilling finale of Milan-San Remo. But what are the favorites, outsiders, and dark horses expecting from the race themselves? IDLProCycling.com tells you everything you need to know.

No matter what happens, there’s one rider almost guaranteed to shape the race: World Champion Tadej Pogacar, who would love nothing more than to finally add La Primavera to his palmarès this Saturday. "I feel ready for Milan-San Remo. I know the course well by now and hope we can break the race open on Saturday. Can we win? It won’t be easy, but we’re going to try."

"As we've seen in the past, there are several ways this race can play out," said Pogacar. "Of course, we have a plan and we want to put ourselves in the best possible position. Milan-San Remo is a race I truly, truly want to win," the Slovenian reiterated.

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Alpecin-Deceuninck lines up with Van der Poel, Philipsen, and Groves

After Pogacar, most eyes will be on the Mathieu van der Poel–Jasper Philipsen duo—winners of Milan-San Remo in 2023 and 2024. Philipsen, however, suffered a crash on Wednesday during Nokere Koerse. "My hand was stitched up the same day in the hospital, and all the road rash wounds were treated with extra care. I'm far from comfortable, but thankfully the pain is manageable. I was already able to ride fairly well on Thursday morning, without too much stiffness. That gives me the motivation to go for it."

"Milan-San Remo is never an easy race to win. Last year, everything fell into place, and I’m very aware of that. This year’s scenario could be very different. But with Mathieu and now Kaden (Groves) on the team, we have multiple options. I trust that we can do something great together, and that’s what matters most," said the Belgian.

Van der Poel also shared his thoughts on the final of the Italian spring Monument. "It’s no coincidence that people say it’s one of the Monuments you can win without being the strongest rider. Everything depends on what happens on the Poggio. The most difficult moment is when the group is still together after the descent. That’s when you know the attacks are coming—and that’s probably the most dangerous moment of the race. I want to be there on the Poggio and see what’s possible. But if I’m not feeling at my best, I’ll support the team. The most important thing is that we win as a team," the Dutchman concluded.

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Lidl-Trek hopes to be in the mix with multiple riders after the Poggio

Not one, not two, but three team leaders—that’s the luxury Lidl-Trek brings to Milan-San Remo with Mads Pedersen, Jonathan Milan, and Jasper Stuyven. Pedersen impressed in Paris-Nice and is chasing his first monument victory. "Ideally, we’ll still have a few guys left after the Poggio. In any case, it’s great to go to San Remo with a team like this. It’s no secret that Jonny is the fastest, so if it comes down to a sprint, we’re going all-in for him."

"I wouldn’t be surprised if Pogacar attacks already on the Cipressa. We have to try to follow him. That would be fine by me—though the downside is, it’s Pogacar," the Dane added. "Normally, once he goes, you don’t see him again. But in this race, it could unfold differently. If that scenario plays out, I hope the other favorites are willing to work together."

Oliver Naesen, in his preview with Het Nieuwsblad, even suggested UAE might go on the offensive even earlier. "You can be sure he’s going to try something. UAE will make the race as hard as possible. Last week, I was at the airport bar with Nils Politt, just by chance. He didn’t beat around the bush—he said they’re going full gas on the Cipressa, maybe even before that, on the capi. That’s some spicy info. Fun? Not exactly," Naesen remarked.

Milan and Stuyven echoed Pedersen’s thoughts. "I’ll do my best to stay with the front group, but I know how fast they climb these days," said Jonathan Milan. "Maybe it’s too early to talk about winning, but we have a strong team. Even with Pogacar on the start list, we’re not racing for second place." Jasper Stuyven, a former winner, added: "Hopefully we’re up front after the Poggio and won’t have to chase Pogacar and Van der Poel. But of course, anything can happen. Even if you have multiple guys in the front group, it’s no guarantee."

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Tirreno riders line up in Pavia with confidence

One rider who consistently features on the list of favorites is Filippo Ganna. "I haven’t had much time to recover after Tirreno-Adriatico, so I’m not exactly sure where I stand. It all comes down to the final 45 minutes, so we’re hoping for a good day," he said, as usual keeping his cards close to his chest. His former teammate Tom Pidcock, also in strong form, tends to be more outspoken. "How I’ll approach it? I can’t say right now, but every decision you make can take you out of the race. You really only get one shot."

Olav Kooij also rode his way into form at Tirreno-Adriatico. "I’m happy with how my season has started. After a strong start in Oman, I had a bit of a setback, but with second place in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, I bounced back well. The goal at Tirreno was to win a stage, and I did that. That gives me a lot of confidence. Hopefully, I can show myself again on Saturday. As a team, we’ll have to do our best to be well-positioned at the key moments," said the Dutchman.

Former winner Matej Mohoric, riding for Bahrain Victorious, is less optimistic. "I had a tough lead-up to Sanremo this year," Mohoric explained in a team press release. "I wasn’t at 100 percent during Opening Weekend and got sick just before Strade Bianche. Hopefully, I’ll be recovered in time for the first Monument of the season," he said, uncertainly.

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What about the riders outside the list of top favorites?

Like Biniam Girmay and Michael Matthews, Olav Kooij is hoping for a sprint finish. "It’s one of the races I love the most," said the Australian, who came just short of victory last year. "I feel like I’m in even better shape now than I was then. I haven’t had any crashes or physical issues. Over the past few days, I’ve reconned the final 50 kilometers multiple times—I now literally know every meter. And I’ve never had such a strong team around me."

Girmay recently returned from Eritrea, where he became a father for the second time three weeks ago. "I used the altitude and good weather there to prepare. Milan-San Remo is my big goal for this spring. After three weeks of training camp, I might be lacking a bit of race speed, but we’ve got over 200 kilometers to settle in," said the Intermarché-Wanty team leader.

Finally, there’s Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, lining up with two outsiders: Maxim Van Gils and Laurence Pithie. "If Tadej Pogacar or Mathieu van der Poel attacks, I think I can follow," the Belgian boldly claimed. "The climbs are tough, but not so hard that I expect to struggle." Pithie, riding his first European race of the season, added: "I hope to play a role in the finale—but mostly, I’m hoping for good weather. That makes a big difference in this race."

Read also

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