Winning the Milano-Sanremo is always very difficult, but winning it wearing the world champion jersey is a feat that only 4 riders have accomplished so far.

The first was Alfredo Binda in 1931, then Eddy Merckx in 1972 and 1975, Felice Gimondi in 1974, and lastly Beppe Saronni in 1983. 42 years have passed since Saronni won the Classicissima, and he remains the last to cross the Sanremo finish line with the rainbow jersey. Yet in various editions of the race, there have been many world champions who could have won. Even last year, this long interval could have been interrupted: Mathieu van der Poel was wearing the world champion jersey, but the Dutchman, after quick calculation, understood his teammate Philipsen had better chances of success.

In recent years, among world champions who narrowly missed victory were Peter Sagan, who settled for second place in 2017, while Alaphilippe, who was in great form in 2022, was forced to skip the race due to injury. However, this year this taboo might fall: last September in Zurich, Tadej Pogačar conquered the most precious jersey in cycling and on Saturday will be the favorite to win.

The Slovenian knows the route well and, despite being able to map every corner of the finale, he has nonetheless decided to review it to go over everything he already knows by heart.

The Milano-Sanremo, however, is the most unpredictable race of all, and often the big favorite fails to win. Pogačar is strong, will be the most powerful of all, and his team is well-organized, but his attacks from the saddle might not be enough, and every move will be intercepted and neutralized in time. To win, the Slovenian will need to use his team to wear down the sprinters, and it's not excluded that the decisive attack might come at the Cipressa, and by the end of the Poggio he might have shaken off every opponent. At that point, like in a long time trial, he could race alone towards Via Roma, to conquer the first Monument Classic of the year.