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  "description": "Lotte Kopecky and Tadej Pogačar took victories on a momentous, historic and picturesque day in Italy.",
  "path": "/milan-san-remo-gallery-monumental-performances-mark-a-memorable-day/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-22T18:45:16.000Z",
  "site": "https://escapecollective.com",
  "tags": [
    "Lotte Kopecky is back on top at Milan-San RemoThe race came down to a group of five that broke away on the Poggio.Escape CollectiveAbby Mickey",
    "Another Monument falls as Pogačar comes back from a crash to win a truly epic Milan-San RemoTadej Pogačar finally ticked off ‘La Primavera’ after going on the attack on the Cipressa, and out-sprinting Tom Pidcock on the line – all after crashing 33 km from the finish.Escape CollectiveKit Nicholson",
    "if not the most exciting",
    "first win of the season at Wednesday's Nokere Koerse",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "Kristof Ramon, Cor Vos\n\nSometimes, 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.\n\nTwo 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.\n\nKopecky'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.\n\nLotte Kopecky is back on top at Milan-San RemoThe race came down to a group of five that broke away on the Poggio.Escape CollectiveAbby Mickey\n\nAs 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nAnother Monument falls as Pogačar comes back from a crash to win a truly epic Milan-San RemoTadej Pogačar finally ticked off ‘La Primavera’ after going on the attack on the Cipressa, and out-sprinting Tom Pidcock on the line – all after crashing 33 km from the finish.Escape CollectiveKit Nicholson\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe women's race kicked off proceedings on Saturday morning, enjoying a picturesque presentation in Genoa.Reigning champion Lorena Wiebes lined up as a top favourite.Wiebes' teammate Lotte Kopecky was also up there in the conversation, fresh off her first win of the season at Wednesday's Nokere Koerse.Slightly overcast conditions soon gave way to bright sun and pleasant temperatures.A nine-rider breakaway got a headstart on the coastal roads: Eleonora La Bella (Aromitalia Vaiano), K. Ragusa (Human Powered Health), Lara Crestanello (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria), Constance Valentin (Mayenne Monbana My Pie), Heide Franz (St Michel-Auber 93), Eleonora Deotto (Mendelspeck E-Work), Sara Luccon (Top Girls-Fasso Bortolo), Sofia Arici (Vini Fantini-BePink) and Bodine Vollering (Volkerwessels).22-year-old Bodine (front right) was the only Vollering sister at the Monumental Spring Classic.In the bunch, SD Worx-Protime was looking after its leaders.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Milan-San Remo gallery: Monumental performances mark a memorable day",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-23T16:16:36.015Z"
}