Pogačar won Milan-San Remo on a cracked frame

Tadej Pogačar’s dominant victory at Milan-San Remo on Saturday has taken on an almost mythical quality, with reports from *Escape Collective* confirming he completed the final 33 kilometres on a cracked frame. The damage stemmed from a major pile-up involving several favourites, including Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, the latter of whom notably waited for his Jumbo-Visma teammates. Pogačar, however, pressed on, ultimately soloing to a commanding win, his second Monument of the season.

This revelation adds another layer to Pogačar’s already formidable reputation, highlighting not just his physical prowess but also an extraordinary mental fortitude and perhaps a touch of good fortune. While modern carbon frames are remarkably robust, riding at Grand Tour winner intensity on compromised equipment is a significant risk. It underscores the chaos of the race's decisive moments and the fine margins separating triumph from disaster, particularly for those caught in the early-race incident that saw Van Aert and Van der Poel delayed.

To win a Monument is impressive; to do so on a compromised machine, unknowingly or not, suggests Pogačar's rivals are not merely racing a man, but a force of nature.