Caleb Ewan, a two-time runner-up at Milano-Sanremo, could be considered an expert on the race, albeit with some exaggeration. The Australian, who recently joined INEOS Grenadiers, won’t be competing in this year’s edition but shared his thoughts on how Tadej Pogačar one of the race favorites could improve his chances of victory.
Ewan believes that tackling the Cipressa (the penultimate climb) at full speed could benefit Pogačar, but past attempts have shown this strategy might not work in his favor. Speaking on ‘The Geraint Thomas Cycling Podcast’, Ewan pointed out the challenge Pogačar faces: “Winning Milano-Sanremo will be tough for him, especially given the current field of riders who blend climbing and sprinting abilities, like Van der Poel.”
Since Cipressa is just under 20 kilometers from the finish, Ewan noted that positioning plays a key role. “A rider like me wouldn’t usually need to stay with the best on those climbs, but if you’re well-positioned in the slipstream, it becomes much easier. Another factor is predictability everyone knows Pogačar will make a move, and there aren’t many opportunities in Milano-Sanremo to surprise the competition.”
If he were in Pogačar’s position, Ewan would approach the race differently. “In my view, his past mistake was making Cipressa too hard. That ended up easing the pace between Cipressa and Poggio, allowing more riders to stay in contention when normally, the lead-up to Poggio is full gas. I remember one year I was already pushing 500 watts in the wheel before Poggio even started.”
Instead of exhausting himself and his rivals too early, Ewan suggests Pogačar should take a more measured approach. “He should conserve energy over Cipressa, keep as many teammates with him as possible, and then execute a full lead-out to the Poggio.”
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