** Milan–Sanremo 2025: Van der Poel as master, Pogacar in front of his demons **
On March 22, 2025, the famous cycling race Milan-Sanremo, often nicknamed the “Primavera”, saw the Dutch Mathieu Van der Poel winning for the second time. This victory, which marks his seventh monument, hoists him at the height of his rival Slovenian Tadej Pogacar in the illustrious record of the great classics. However, beyond the simple victory, the test revealed much deeper issues highlighting the psychology of runners as well as the complex strategies involved on Italian roads.
### Psychology of performance
Van der Poel’s victory is not only a question of raw power or racing strategy, but it highlights the complex psychology that governs the world of professional cycling. While Pogacar, often considered one of the best runners of his generation, showed a remarkable audacity by multiplying attacks, he was confronted with a haunting question: how to triumph at Milan-Sanremo? This monument is resistant to its assaults for several seasons, and the rise of psychological tensions can explain why these races often play on a thread.
Historically, some runners have developed a kind of “failure of failure” in specific tests. For example, Alberto Contador has never managed to win the Italian Giro after being the champion, while Lance Armstrong saw many failures on certain European classics despite his emblematic triumphs in the Tour de France. For Pogacar, whose career is enamelled with success, the Milan-Sanremo enigma becomes almost an obsession, and the pressure to overcome this failure could be an obstacle rather than a performance engine.
### The art of strategy
From the point of view of the race strategy, the performance of Van der Poel revealed a rare tactical excellence. He knew how to remain stuck to the pugacar wheel, anticipating his attacks and positioning himself ideally for the final sprint. Less than a kilometer from the finish, the descent of the Poggio allowed Ganna, too, to regain ground. This moment of relaxation, often neglected in the analyzes, proved that a race is not only played at the top; Energy management and selection of favorable moments to attack are just as crucial.
Performance data show that Van der Poel’s final sprint was 1100 watts, a feat worthy of the biggest sprinters. In comparison, the performance of Pogacar and Ganna were slightly lower, reflecting not only a power difference but also a finer understanding of group dynamics in the last hectometers.
### Evolve in a changing sport
Cycling is constantly evolving, both technical and ethical terms. With the rise of the data collected thanks to performance sensors and the profiling of races, the approach of physical preparation is radically transformed. The runners who know how to handle the analysis of the data and all the elements which result from it – such as food, recovery and management of stress – will have a significant advantage over competition. Van der Poel, who has demonstrated a fine understanding of new technologies, could continue to dominate the classics if these strategies continue to bear fruit.
### towards the future
While Van der Poel will savor his victory, the question of the future of Pogacar arises in a highly. Torn between the winner instinct and the doubts that can be born at each missed test, how can Slovenian demystify this timeless classic? The answer could reside in a questioning of his approaches, both physically and mentally. The world championship, the Giro and other monuments will challenge it by the end of the season, and its ability to bounce against these failures will be decisive for its career.
Milan-Sanremo 2025 thus highlighted not only the greatness of Van der Poel, but also the psychological and strategic complexities that shape the career of the champions of our time. The “Primavera” is not just a race, it is a metaphor of the struggles that each athlete must lead to overcome her limits and conquer her own demons. The season is still young, but the lessons learned during this day will remain engraved in memories and could influence the course of cycling for the years to come.
** Fatshimetry ** is up to date with changes in cycling and will continue to analyze these resonances at the dawn of this new era of the great classics.