World champion Tadej Pogacar capped his outstanding season by clinching the Giro di Lombardia for a fourth consecutive year on Saturday. His solo breakaway once again left his competitors trailing fruitlessly. Wearing the rainbow jersey, which he earned by securing the world championship road race title last month, Pogacar launched his decisive move with 48 kilometres to go, following his UAE Team Emirates teammates’ successful effort to neutralise an earlier escape group.
The Slovenian cyclist’s attack unfolded on the Colma di Sormano ascent during the 255-kilometre journey from Bergamo to Como. Despite a pursuit led by Belgian Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, Pogacar only extended his advantage on the downhill stretch.
“The entire race hinged on our team, so it’s brilliant to conclude it this way,” Pogacar remarked. “My attack was premeditated because I knew if I had a good lead at the summit, it would be a head-to-head contest over the final 40 kilometres, and I could potentially make it to the finish. But you can never be certain.” He added, “I pushed hard on the descent to gain a psychological edge over Remco Evenepoel.”
Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) secured second place, trailing Pogacar by three minutes and 16 seconds, while Italy’s Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) delighted the home fans by finishing third. The season for Pogacar concludes as it started, with a victory in Italy. He kicked off the year by clinching the Strade Bianche title in March, adding Lombardia as his second Monument win this year after triumphing at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Pogacar claimed his first Giro d’Italia in May with a nearly ten-minute lead and went on to secure his third Tour de France victory, becoming only the third rider to achieve the Triple Crown following his success at the World Championships. Previously, only Fausto Coppi had achieved four successive victories at Lombardia, from 1946 to 1949, but Pogacar isn’t one to become complacent.
“In the finale, I was just savouring the moment with the crowd and contemplating the off-season,” Pogacar remarked. “After my career, we’ll see where I stand in cycling’s history.”
