March 18, 2023
A perfectly timed Poggio attack meant the Dutchman won the second Monument of his career. We analyse how he executed a victory that will go down in history
“A special win in a special race.” – Mathieu van der Poel
Sometimes in bike racing there are victories that just feel like they were meant to be. It’s like regardless of what any other team or rider decides to do, there is one person who will take the win because it is what someone, somewhere is deciding should happen. Whether this is just an illusion created by the flawless and effortless style of a spectacular bike rider, or if there really is a sort of supernatural force influencing events that fit so beautifully into the sport’s history, is a matter of individual beliefs. Either way, Mathieu van der Poel’s victory at Milan-Sanremo today felt like one of those things that was destined to happen.
There were some teams that seemed to do pretty much everything right throughout the 295km race. Take Bahrain-Victorious, for example, who had five riders perfectly positioned to execute a flawless lead out to the foot of the Poggio and set up Matej Mohorič, or UAE Team Emirates, who rode hard on the Cipressa to drop some of the key sprinters and then had Tim Wellens assist Tadej Pogačar to launch his move on the Poggio. Or even Lotto Dstny, who, for a team recently relegated to Pro Continental level, rode impressively to give Caleb Ewan the best chance at finally getting a win in Sanremo. Think even of the Ineos Grenadiers or Trek-Segafredo, both teams poised confidently at the front of the race right from the flag drop, looking alert and ready.
Image: RCS/Pool
Among all this, when commentators were lauding the efforts of the well-organised teams or people were tweeting praise at those who seemed to be protecting their leaders, the eventual winner of the race was nowhere to be seen. He was hidden in the bunch, despite being one of the most famous faces in the sport, he remained, quite spectacularly, quiet and unseen. He was so imperceptible that you would be forgiven for forgetting to even think of him when speculating on who was looking the strongest during the race. Even Van der Poel’s team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, were rarely visible at the front of the peloton, only sending one or two riders at a time to contribute to the chase.
There was a moment when his tall and broad frame suddenly appeared at the front of…