Saturday March 21st 2026 - Milano-Sanremo: Pavia - Sanremo (298 km)
Milano-San Remo 2026 takes place on Saturday 21 March over roughly 298 kilometres, starting in Pavia and finishing on the traditional Via Roma in Sanremo. The first Monument of the season once again offers a long, gradually unfolding race in which the outcome is largely decided in the final 25 kilometres.
After rolling out from Pavia, the peloton heads via Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi and Casei Gerola towards Voghera, where it joins the familiar route across Piedmont. The race then passes through towns such as Tortona and Ovada before climbing the Passo del Turchino, the classic gateway to the Ligurian coast, followed by a lengthy descent towards Genova-Voltri. From there, the riders turn west along the Via Aurelia, following the shoreline on largely flat roads that lead into the decisive phase.
The closing section begins with the sequence of the three Capi (Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta) which stretch the bunch and force the teams of favourites to work. With around 27 kilometres remaining, the Cipressa looms: 5.6 kilometres at an average of 4.1 percent, followed by a technical descent back to the coastal road. The race usually hinges on the Poggio di Sanremo, 9 kilometres from the line, climbing for 3.7 kilometres at just under 4 percent with ramps up to 8 percent near the top and a fast, twisting descent. From there, a reduced group, a small bunch or a lone leader can still reach Via Roma, where all scenarios from a sprint to a late attack remain possible.
Given the startlist, an aggressive race on the Cipressa appears the most plausible scenario. Just like in 2025, UAE Team Emirates can drive the pace from the bottom, with Pogacar launching his attack early on. Over the top of the Cipressa only a limited number of riders may remain, making the technical descent and the run-in to the Poggio super fast. On the Poggio, Pogacar can attack again: either launching a decisive move himself or playing the team-game with a teammate behind. Will he be victorious in the race he wants to win the most?
Milano-Sanremo 2026 - favourites
Computer prediction💻, Expected Win (xW):
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🦄 Filippo Ganna
*The unicorn is our joker, nice old-fashioned based on feeling
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