Van der Poel Braces for Pogačar Attacks, Pidcock with 'One Shot to Win,' Lamperti Hits Another Podium

Mathieu van der Poel is relishing another duel with Tadej Pogačar up and over the Poggio in Saturday’s Milan-San Remo.

Van der Poel is seen by many as the only rider who can defang Pogačar in the one-days, and they face off for the first time in 2025 at the Italian monument.

“I’m aware that I need to be at 110 percent to beat Pogačar. That’s always good motivation,” said Van der Poel, a winner in 2023.

The Dutch superstar is bracing for attacks and the eye-watering high-speed charge down the Via Roma in a race that never plays out the same way twice.

“It’s for sure an unpredictable race,” he said. “It all depends on what happens on the Poggio. The toughest moment is when the group is still together after the descent of the Poggio. You know attacks are coming. That might be the most dangerous moment of the race. Pogačar will once again play a key role.”

Also read: Now or never: Why Pogačar needs to win Milan-San Remo

And what does he think about when the Poggio comes, the decision moment in the season’s longest race?

“Actually, nothing. Everything happens so fast. Before you know it, you’re at the top, and then it’s full gas to the finish,” he said.

“I’m at an age where I have already achieved almost all of my goals, even more then that. That gives me a lot of peace of mind. Everything that comes now is a bonus, and that makes racing more enjoyable. But I still want to try and win the biggest races out there, another monument, so I’m still very motivated.”

Pidcock: ‘Only one shot to win it’

Tom Pidcock is as hungry as ever for his first monument win, and Milan-San Remo is a race that fits his attacking style. In three starts, he’s been 11th and 15th, with one DNF.

Coming off a hot start to 2025 with his high-profile move to Q36.5, he’s optimistic to keep the momentum going.

“There’s been a lot of second places in the last few races,” he said Friday. “So let’s see if I can convert that into a win tomorrow.”

Also read: Women’s winner earns 10x less than men’s winner

With second at Strade Bianche and two second-places during a grim and brutal edition of Tirreno-Adriatico, Pidcock spent the week on the Italian Riviera.

“I spent the week in San Remo and did some specific efforts. After some hard efforts at Strade and Tirreno, I mainly took it easy this week,” he said.

“I cannot say how to do it, but the closer you get to the finish, every decision you make can take you out of the race. You only have one shot to win it.”

Philipsen: ‘San Remo never easy to win’

Alpecin-Deceuninck knows how to win in Milan-San Remo, and the team brings firepower to chase the three-peat.

Defending champion Jasper Philipsen crashed in Nokere Koerse three days ago and received stitches in his hand, and wasn’t sure he’d even be able to race.

“It was a hard crash that I didn’t see coming, and I needed some time to determine whether I would be race-ready,” he said Friday. “My hand was stitched the same evening at the Ghent UZ hospital, and all abrasions were treated with extra care.

“It’s far from comfortable, but luckily, the pain is not unbearable. I was already able to ride quite well on Thursday morning, without too much stiffness. So, I want to give it a shot.”

Also read: Is MVDP the only rider who can stop Pogačar?

Philipsen knows that if the race doesn’t go perfectly he has no chance to win.

“Milan-San Remo is never an easy race to win. Last year, everything fell into place for me, and I am very aware of that. Maybe the scenario will be completely different this year,” he said. “But with Mathieu and now Kaden in the team, we have multiple options.”

Lamperti hits another podium in Koksijde Classic

Luke Lamperti is making up for lost time in his delayed season debut.

The 21-year-old American sprinter bagged his second straight podium in just his second race of the 2025 season.

Lamperti kicked to second in a hard-fought, wild finale at the Bredene Koksijde Classic, with only the resurgent Edward Theuns (Lidl-Trek) denying him the win.

After finishing third earlier this week at Nokere Koerse, Lamperti once again rode with renewed confidence into the day’s winning 15-man breakaway.

Also read: Why Lamperti delayed his 2025 season debut

The race reached boiling point in the final five kilometers, with the gap to the bunch slashed to under 10 seconds. With the peloton breathing down their necks, Theuns gambled first to open his sprint to win.

The consecutive podiums confirm the Californian belongs as a player in Europe’s toughest one-day races in his second full season with Soudal Quick-Step.