For cycling fans the 2026 cycling season has already had some pretty amazing finishes so far. On Saturday, one of the most exciting races…well, for a few minutes, is here. Milano Sanremo, the first Monument of the year, is a long day in the saddle for the riders–with a few, short but key moments that determine the outcome. In 2026 there will again be a women’s edition, formally known as Milano-Sanremo Donne. This is the second (sort of) time MSR is taking place for women. More on that below.
La Primavera traditionally signals the true start of the Spring Classics. All eyes will once again be on two of cycling’s biggest stars: Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel.
For Pogačar, victory in Milano-Sanremo (along with Paris-Roubaix) remains one of the few major prizes missing from his remarkable résumé. Yet standing in his way is van der Poel, who has repeatedly proven he thrives on this unpredictable 300-km race. The problem is, the course simply isn’t hard enough for the current world champion–but he’s tried multiple times to try and outsmart tradition.
In 2025 on the legendary climbs of the Cipressa and the decisive Poggio, the race exploded as Pogačar launched a relentless series of attacks. (As he does.)
Only two riders could follow: van der Poel and Filippo Ganna. The latter, by the skin of his denti.
Despite Pogi’s repeated accelerations, van der Poel refused to crack…although he came pretty darn close. “I died a thousand deaths holding Pogačar’s wheel,” the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider said after.
Just a few hundred metres from the summit of the Poggio, van der Poel struck with a perfectly timed attack. Pogačar managed to claw his way back, but the effort had taken its toll. In the sprint that followed, van der Poel sealed an impressive victory.
As the 2026 edition approaches, the question everyone watching will be fans: will Pogačar finally take the win?
The startlists are not fully posted–but hopefully a few Canadian men will be there, too.
Women’s race
The second edition of MSR Donne starts in Genoa and finishes on Via Roma after a 156 km route.
The women will tackle the same decisive climbs–including the Cipressa and the Poggio di Sanremo.
Although this is technically the second time it’s been part of the Women’s WorldTour, there have been just over half a dozen versions of it before. The race began in 1999 as the Primavera Rosa. It was part of the UCI Women’s World Cup, but was cancelled in 2006.
Last year it returned to the calendar. Startlists are being finalized, but there will undoubtedly be several Canadians racing, including world champion Magdeleine Vallieres Mill. It would be good to see someone like Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) on the start line too. If the Victoria native can be near the front on the Poggi–and down it–she could deliver a big result on the Via Roma.
Flobikes.com has coverage of both races–if you feel like watching a peloton cruise along the coast for hours. Or, you can have it on in the background and crank the volume when the riders hit those decisive climbs. It’s pretty hard to stay away before then.