Tadej Pogačar Stuns Rivals with Cipressa Attack: “He Looked Like He Was Riding a Motorcycle”

Tadej Pogačar once again proved why he is one of the most electrifying riders in modern cycling, delivering a jaw-dropping attack on the Cipressa climb at Milan-San Remo 2025 that left his rivals in disbelief. The Slovenian superstar’s acceleration was so powerful that some competitors likened it to watching a rider on a motorbike rather than a bicycle.

Pogačar’s Devastating Move on Cipressa

The UAE Team Emirates leader ignited the race with an explosive surge on the Cipressa, the penultimate climb of the 294km Monument. Traditionally, the Cipressa serves as a warm-up before the decisive Poggio, but Pogačar defied convention by launching an early assault, catching the peloton off guard.

“I looked up, and he was just gone,” Mathieu van der Poel said after the race. “He looked like he was riding a motorcycle. I tried to follow, but he was on another level.”

Pogačar’s acceleration shredded the peloton, leaving only a handful of riders in the chase group. His daring attack forced teams like Visma-Lease a Bike and Soudal Quick-Step into panic mode, as they scrambled to limit the damage before the Poggio.

A Bold Strategy That Nearly Paid Off

Pogačar’s move was reminiscent of his 2022 Strade Bianche solo victory, where he rode away from the field with over 50km to go. While Milan-San Remo is notoriously difficult to win with a long-range attack, the Slovenian was clearly willing to take risks.

“I knew I had good legs, and I didn’t want to wait for the Poggio,” Pogačar explained post-race. “I tried to make it as hard as possible for the others. If they wanted to beat me, they had to work for it.”

Despite his relentless effort, the race eventually came back together before the final showdown on the Poggio, where a select group of contenders battled for victory in San Remo.

Pogačar Continues to Amaze

Though he didn’t claim victory, Pogačar’s Cipressa raid was the defining moment of the race—one that left fans and fellow riders in awe. His ability to turn Milan-San Remo, traditionally a race for sprinters and late attackers, into a personal battleground further cements his reputation as a fearless and aggressive racer.

With the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Tour de France still ahead, Pogačar’s early-season form sends a clear message: he’s ready to attack, and when he does, he’s nearly unstoppable.

As Wout van Aert put it, shaking his head at the finish line, “When Pogačar decides to go, all you can do is pray.”