Mohorič Leads Bahrain Victorious to Milano-Sanremo
# Mohorič Set to Lead Bahrain Victorious in 2026 Milano-Sanremo Challenge
The 117th edition of Milano-Sanremo, the first Monument race of the cycling season, is set to unfold on Saturday, March 21st, covering nearly 300 kilometers from Pavia to the iconic finish line on Via Roma in Sanremo. Known as “La classicissima di Primavera,” this race begins with a calm pace before ramping up into a fierce contest, particularly as cyclists approach the challenging climbs of the Cipressa and Poggio.
This year, the route starts in Pavia for the third consecutive time, leading competitors through Milano before reaching Certosa, and then joining the traditional course. Notably, after a second passage through Pavia, the race proceeds to Tortona and continues along the Aurelia state road, passing through Varazze, Savona, and Albenga before arriving in Imperia.
A pivotal moment in the race occurs in San Lorenzo al Mare as cyclists ascend the Cipressa, introduced in 1982, followed by the Poggio di Sanremo, which begins just 9 km from the finish and peaks at 5.3 km to go. The technical descent features hairpin turns that lead back to the Aurelia, culminating in the final sprint through the streets of Sanremo.
Matej Mohorič, who made headlines with a stunning win in 2022 thanks to his innovative dropper seatpost, headlines the Bahrain Victorious roster. This year, he is supported by teammates Damiano Caruso, Fran Miholjević, Roman Ermakov, Alessandro Borgo, Pau Miquel, and Edoardo Zambanini.
Reflecting on the upcoming race, Mohorič emphasized the significance of Milano-Sanremo for him: “Milano Sanremo always brings out the special memories and emotions. I worked really hard over the winter, and I feel pretty good. I’m very calm and focused, I know exactly what it takes to get a result on Via Roma, and I’ll enjoy every moment of the race on Saturday, making sure I leave everything out on the road and have no regrets at the finish line.”
Team Bahrain Victorious’ Sports Director Enrico Gasparotto echoed the anticipation. He stated, “La classicissima di Primavera, the first monument race of the season, means a lot to us as a team. Nibali first and Matej second both won it, so obviously we are excited to be here and fully motivated to give our maximum. We are not favourites; we can see that some riders are stronger than us, but Matej is the man of thousands of surprises. The whole team is fully committed to supporting him throughout the longest race of the season, and we believe he can bring home a strong result.”
As the cycling world gears up for this iconic race, all eyes will be on Mohorič and Bahrain Victorious to see if they can add another chapter to the storied history of Milano-Sanremo.
