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Stephen Farrand

'Milan-San Remo should be fun' – Mathieu van der Poel shows he is ready for the Classics with Tirreno-Adriatico tactical masterclass

MARTINSICURO, ITALY - MARCH 12: (L-R) Isaac Del Toro of Mexico and UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Blue Leader Jersey and Mathieu van der Poel of Netherlands and Team Alpecin-Premier Tech - Purple Sprint Jersey compete during the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, Stage 4 a 213km stage from Tagliacozzo to Martinsicuro / #UCIWT / on March 12, 2026 in Martinsicuro, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images).

The organisers of Tirreno-Adriatico designed stage 4 to replicate the racing of Milan-San Remo, and Mathieu van der Poel showed he is ready for this year's La Classicissima with a tactical masterclass of monument racing to Martinsicuro.

The Alpecin-Premier Tech leader had the legs to join the decisive selection, then rode a tactical perfect race, even taking advantage of Wout van Aert's generosity and other riders' weaker tactical options before unleashing a 280 metre sprint along the Adriatic seafront as if he was sprinting in San Remo's Via Roma finish.

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