Mathieu van der Poel Clinches Second Milan-San Remo Title in Thrilling Finish…read more….

Mathieu van der Poel Clinches Second Milan-San Remo Title in Thrilling Finish…read more….

April 20, 2025 – Milan, Italy — Dutch cycling star Mathieu van der Poel delivered another masterclass in one-day racing, capturing his second Milan-San Remo title in dramatic fashion on Saturday. In a breathtaking finish to one of cycling’s most prestigious monuments, van der Poel held off fierce challenges from Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogacar to cross the finish line first and add another monumental win to his résumé.

Van der Poel, who previously won the race in 2023, used a perfectly timed attack on the Poggio — the race’s iconic final climb — to gain a crucial advantage. Despite a relentless chase from top contenders, he maintained his lead during the descent and onto the Via Roma finish, sealing victory by a narrow margin.

A Battle of Giants

The race featured a star-studded lineup, and as expected, it came down to the elite. Filippo Ganna, known for his time-trial prowess and raw power, pushed hard in the final kilometers, while Tadej Pogacar, the Tour de France champion, launched multiple attempts to bridge the gap.

Yet it was van der Poel’s tactical brilliance and explosive climbing that proved decisive. His attack on the Poggio was reminiscent of his previous victory — a signature move that left his rivals scrambling to respond.

Post-Race Reactions

“I had to go all-in on the Poggio,” van der Poel said after the race. “With riders like Pogacar and Ganna behind me, I knew I couldn’t wait. It was one of the hardest finishes of my career.”

Ganna, who took second place, praised the Dutchman’s performance: “Mathieu was simply too strong today. We gave everything in the chase, but he made his move at the perfect moment.”

Pogacar, who finished third, also acknowledged the level of competition: “This race is always unpredictable. We fought hard, but van der Poel earned it.”

A Monumental Legacy Grows

With this victory, van der Poel becomes one of the few riders in modern cycling to win Milan-San Remo multiple times — a testament to his versatility, endurance, and race-day instinct. Known for his explosive power in classics and cyclocross dominance, van der Poel continues to carve out a place among cycling’s greats.

As the Spring Classics season continues, all eyes will be on van der Poel to see if he can carry this momentum into other major one-day races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.