Tadej Pogačar Secures Unprecedented Fifth Straight Il Lombardia Victory
Tadej Pogačar achieved an unprecedented fifth consecutive victory at the prestigious Il Lombardia cycling race, tying the record set by Fausto Coppi. His remarkable performance on October 7, 2023, in Bergamo, Italy, solidified his place in cycling history as the only rider to win Il Lombardia five times in a row.
Pogačar’s Dominant Performance
The world champion, riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, executed a powerful attack on the steep slopes of Passo di Ganda. Pogačar’s final stretch was remarkable, as he raced the last 36 kilometers alone without any rivals catching him. He crossed the finish line to roaring crowds, celebrating this remarkable accomplishment.
Remco Evenepoel of Soudal-QuickStep finished in second place. This marks his third consecutive second-place finish after the World Championships in Rwanda and the European Championships in France. Michael Storer from Tudor Pro Cycling secured third place, while other competitors struggled to keep pace with Pogačar’s blistering speed.
Race Breakdown
The Il Lombardia, also known as the Race of the Falling Leaves, covered a challenging 241 kilometers. The route featured numerous climbs including:
- Madonna del Ghisallo (8.8km at 3.9%)
- San Gottardo (2.7km at 6.5%)
- Roncola (7.5km at 7.4%)
- Passo della Crocetta (11.7km at 5.8%)
- Zamla Alta (9.8km at 3.3%)
- Passo di Ganda (10km at 7.1%)
- Colle Aperto (1.3km at 7.4%)
Beautiful autumn weather greeted the cyclists as they prepared for this final Monument of the season. Riders aimed to challenge Pogačar, who was the four-time defending champion and aiming for his tenth career Monument victory. Rivals included Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock, looking to leverage their end-of-season form.
Early Race Developments
An early breakaway formed, including notable riders such as Gal Glivar, Thibault Guernalec, and Filippo Ganna. Their lead peaked at over three minutes before the pack began to tighten the gap. Unfortunately, Pidcock suffered a crash and mechanical issues, affecting his race strategy.
As the race intensified, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team worked diligently to maintain Pogačar’s position. They escalated the pace on the descents, creating splits in the peloton that further positioned their leader for success.
Strategic Climb to Victory
Entering the final climb of the day, the Passo di Ganda, Pogačar unleashed a powerful attack. With an average gradient of 7.1%, this 10-kilometer ascent was a critical moment in the race.
Pogačar quickly extended his lead to nearly a minute. Despite Evenepoel’s efforts to catch up, he was unsuccessful and eventually finished 1:48 behind Pogačar. Storer completed the podium in third place, 3:14 behind the champion.
Pogačar Reflects on His Triumph
In a post-race interview, Pogačar expressed gratitude for his team and reiterated the uniqueness of his experiences in this illustrious race. He stated, “This race is really suited to me, and I have a great team around me.” His fifth consecutive win at Il Lombardia added yet another accolade to his impressive season.
