THEMOVE Can Anyone Stop Pogačar and Van der Poel at Milan-Sanremo? | THEMOVE+
Mar 19, 2026
Johan Bruyneel, former pro cyclist and veteran team director, offers sharp tactical analysis. He breaks down UAE Team tactics on the Cipressa and whether Tadej Pogačar can shake Mathieu van der Poel. They debate alternate attack points, team positioning, weather impacts, and dark-horse contenders in a fast, strategic preview.
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Raw Power Beats Watts‑Per‑Kg On Short Climbs
- Short, fast climbs like the Cipressa and Poggio favor raw absolute power over watts‑per‑kg, allowing bigger riders to drop lighter climbers.
- Spencer Martin cites examples (Paris cobbles, Wout van Aert) where seated high‑power efforts beat lighter super‑climbers.
Secure Positioning Before Cipressa
- Positioning into the Cipressa is critical; Pogacar needs a 1.5 km lead‑out and cannot wait until 2 km from the top.
- Johan Bruyneel warns UAE must put explosive riders like Del Toro in place early to launch effective attacks.
A Small Chase Group Could Catch Pogacar
- If Pogacar gets a small gap on the Cipressa, a cooperating chase group of 3–5 (Van der Poel, Ganna, Van Aert, Pidcock, etc.) could reel him back before the Poggio.
- Johan emphasises that off‑the‑record cooperation between rivals is plausible but hard to execute in a frantic finale.