Sometimes, you look at a particular race and a particular rider and think 'this is a match made in heaven.' Either the rider has already won the race in question, or surely some day they must. For a select few riders, that's pretty much all races.
Two of those riders are Lotte Kopecky and Tadej Pogačar. At Milan-San Remo, it was only a matter of time. But it was not easy. For both riders, everything had to fall into place. Even and especially taking into account what might go wrong.
Kopecky's second victory of 2026 came as a result of strength and race-craft, and a mutual faith within her team SD Worx-Protime, which has thus far not had quite the season they'd have hoped, despite Lorena Wiebes' continuing dominance in sprints. With the reigning champion gambling on a bunch finish, Kopecky was assigned to respond should anyone set off fireworks on one or both climbs. So when Puck Pieterse initiated the decisive move on the Poggio, Kopecky was ready to go and join the five-rider move. And with a gap maintained to the finish in San Remo, all that was left was for Kopecky to execute a finale with her characteristic and seasoned confidence.
Abby Mickey
As for Pogačar, Milan-San Remo was his white whale; he'd tried five times before, four of them with a sincere determination that has increased in intensity with each passing year. In the past few winters, Pogačar has made frequent trips over from his base in Monaco to familiarise himself with every inch of the last 30 km, doing everything he could to improve his chances. But he could not account for the form of his rivals who are better suited to 'La Classicissima', none more so than Mathieu van der Poel and his Alpecin-Premier Tech teammate Jasper Philipsen who together have won the past three editions. To challenge them, Pogačar needed a very special day.
The world champion's challenge almost unravelled completely before he'd even arrived at his launchpad, finding himself on the deck and nursing road rash 6 km from the Cipressa. The turnaround that followed was remarkable. In the face of unusual jeopardy, Pogačar and his team rescued Plan A from the edge of disaster. With a fire burning in his belly – and ripping through the exposed flesh of his right flank – the Slovenian superstar got the job done. And for once, the drama lasted, as Tom Pidcock fought him all the way to the line.
Kit Nicholson
The first Monument of the season is always to be celebrated, bearing perhaps one of, if not the most exciting, finales in cycling. 2026 may just go down as one of the best editions in recent memory, for both races. With that in mind, this bumper gallery should help fix a momentous weekend in the memory, with photos from the brilliant Kristof Ramon and Cor Vos.
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