Van der Poel wins thrilling Milan-San Remo

Mathieu van der Poel won his second Milan-San Remo one-day classic title by holding off Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogacar in a thriller.

The Dutchman and Italian Ganna were the only riders able to follow three-time Tour de France champion Pogacar's attack with 25km of the 289km race remaining.

Pogacar and Van der Poel traded blows as they went clear on the final climb, before Ganna reeled them in and set up a three-man sprint finish.

Alpecin-Deceuninck's Van der Poel kicked for the line first, using his immense power to get the better of his rivals and follow up his victory in this race in 2023.

It is his seventh win across the five oldest and most prestigious 'Monument' races in men's cycling, drawing him level with Pogacar after another epic tussle between two of the finest riders of their generation.

"It's hard to believe - I was really focused on trying to get the win," said Van der Poel, 30.

"I surprised them a bit when on the 300m sign, I launched my sprint. I felt strong enough to keep it until the finish line and it was the right tactic."

In the women's race, staged for the first time since 2005, Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes edged out compatriot Marianne Vos and Switzerland's Noemi Ruegg.

Van der Poel, Ganna and Pogacar were among the favourites for victory in the first Monument of the season but a race featuring predictable protagonists thrilled throughout.

A eight-man break went clear in cold and rainy conditions early on before they were caught.

Slovenia's Pogacar, seeking his first Milan San-Remo title after three consecutive top-five finishes, used his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad to set up a devastating move on the Cipressa climb before more attacks on the Poggio.

As the riders looked at each other approaching the final straight, Van der Poel made the decisive move, leaving Ineos Grenadiers' Ganna to finish runner-up to him, as he did in 2023, with Pogacar taking third for the second year in a row.

Only six riders have more Monument victories than Van der Poel and Pogacar, with Gino Bartali, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara also winning seven in their careers.

Van der Poel is also the first multiple champion of this event since Spain's Oscar Freire, who won the last of his three Milan-San Remo titles in 2010.

Michael Matthews took the bunch sprint behind to finish fourth, with Fred Wright the highest-placed British rider in 10th.

The women's race was staged seven times from 1999 to 2005 before it was restored to the calendar for this year with a 160km route starting in Genoa.

Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini attacked after the descent of the Poggio and opened up a sizeable lead before Wiebes' SD Worx-Protime team-mate and two-time reigning world champion Lotte Kopecky responded.

Vos surged into the lead after Longo Borghini was caught, but Wiebes kicked again to pass the three-time former world champion in the final stages.

"Longo Borghini did a really strong attack but I saw Lotte was close behind and the effort she made was amazing," said Wiebes, 26.

"She put me in the perfect position. I didn't want to open my sprint too early but it was enough for the win."