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Van der Poel, Ganna and Pogacar were among the favourites for victory in the first Monument of the season but a race featuring predictable protagonists thrilled throughout.<\/p>\n
A eight-man break went clear in cold and rainy conditions early on before they were caught.<\/p>\n
Slovenia’s Pogacar, seeking his first Milan San-Remo title after three consecutive top-five finishes, used his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad to set up a devastating move on the Cipressa climb before more attacks on the Poggio.<\/p>\n
As the riders looked at each other approaching the final straight, Van der Poel made the decisive move, leaving Ineos Grenadiers’ Ganna to finish runner-up to him, as he did in 2023, with Pogacar taking third for the second year in a row.<\/p>\n
Only six riders have more Monument victories than Van der Poel and Pogacar, with Gino Bartali, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara also winning seven in their careers.<\/p>\n
Van der Poel is also the first multiple champion of this event since Spain’s Oscar Freire, who won the last of his three Milan-San Remo titles in 2010.<\/p>\n
Michael Matthews took the bunch sprint behind to finish fourth, with Fred Wright the highest-placed British rider in 10th.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n