Tadej Pogačar powers beyond Enric Mas to win second Il Lombardia
The Slovenian claimed the third Monument of his career
Two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) drew the curtain on the men's WorldTour season with a powerful sprint victory in the Giro di Lombardia.
After over six hours, the race came down to just two riders - the Slovenian and Enric Mas (Movistar) - with the latter unable match his opponent's fierce kick down the finishing straight.
The duo broke away from the peloton with 19km to go, before being joined by Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) at the front of the race. On the punchy final climb, the 32-year-old was dropped, but held on for third place - his first podium finish in a Monument.
With his victory, Pogačar added a third Monument to his palmarès and became the first rider to win back-to-back editions of Il Lombardia since Joaquim Rodríguez completed the feat in 2013.
"It's really amazing to come back and repeat the victory," Pogačar said after the race, before adding that he believes his season has been "almost perfect".
How it happened
The 116th edition of Il Lombardia offered the race’s longest parcours in eight years, stretching 253km from Bergamo to Como. With almost 5,000m of elevation gain to tackle, the race was billed as one for the peloton’s most astute climbers, particularly those willing to take risks on the descents in the finale.
A 10-rider breakaway formed shortly after the flag drop, gaining a five-minute gap up the road. The group, however, was kept on a tight leash. Having ticked off the first 100km, their advantage fell to just two and a half minutes.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
With 148km to go, news emerged that Mikel Nieve (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) had abandoned the race. The Spaniard, a three-time Giro d’Italia stage winner, suffered a collarbone injury in a nasty crash and was forced to withdraw. Domenico Pozzovivo (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) hit the tarmac not long after and, with his kit in tatters, chose to step into his team car.
Into the final 100km, a calmness took hold of the race as the riders wheeled towards the metaphoric storm. The breakaway was absorbed by the peloton with 71km remaining and the legendary Madonna del Ghisallo looming large.
Jumbo-Visma’s Chris Harper led the charge into the climb’s lower slopes, with UAE Team Emirates in tow. Behind, the bunch began to thin out and a host of riders, including the Italian road champion Filippo Zana (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè), dropped off the back.
João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) was the first to see the chapel at the Ghisallo’s summit. The Portuguese road champion crested the climb, before guiding his teammates down towards the punchy trio of ascents that would form the race’s finale. Race favourites Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl), Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Pogačar remained nestled in the front group.
The Slovenian’s teammates shared tempo-setting duties up the 2.7km-long San Fermo della Battaglia. The narrow road, lined with clamouring spectators, offered little room to attack, and so the race would have to wait a little longer for the first fireworks to go off.
The perfect launchpad came 20km from the line in the form of the Civiglio - a 4.2km climb pitched at a taxing 9.7%. For Alaphilippe, the slopes proved too much. The two-time world champion fell away from the leading group along with Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Qazaqstan), who couldn’t hold the pace on the final outing of his career.
Pogačar fired the first shot with 19km to go, rising out of the saddle and kicking through the pedals. On his wheel, an in-form Mas swiftly followed, and the duo exchanged blows as the Civiglio ramped up.
On the descent, Landa made it three at the front of the race, and with the trio's advantage at 40 seconds, the podium looked all but decided. It would be up to them to determine who would take which step.
With 6km to go, sensing Pogačar was whirring up his engine, Mas launched an attack, and the two race leaders stormed away, leaving Landa in the dust.
The Movistar rider bided his time on Pogačar's wheel as they passed under the flamme rouge. With 200m to go, Mas catapulted himself into the wind, forcing his rival to open up his sprint.
The duo rifled towards the line on opposite sides of the road, and while the battle appeared close, it was never in doubt for Pogačar. This year's Tour de France runner-up was able to sit up in his saddle before he reached the line to celebrate his third Monument victory in just two years.
Landa rolled home for third, and as the bunch fought for minor places, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) crossed the finish line for the final time in his professional career.
Results
Il Lombardia 2022: Bergamo to Como (253km)
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 6-21-22
2. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar, at same time
3. Mikel Landa (Esp) Bahrain Victorious, at 10s
4. Sergio Higuita (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 52s
5. Carlos Rodríguez (Esp) Ineos Grenadiers, at same time
6. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar
7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
8. Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9. Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM, all at 1-24
10. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-26
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and holds a master's degree in International Journalism, which he passed with distinction. Since 2020, he has been the host of The TT Podcast, offering race analysis and rider interviews.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill, and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. His best result is 28th in a hill-climb competition, albeit out of 40 entrants.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tadej Pogačar says blistering Sormano attack was 'planned' after cruising to fourth Il Lombardia title
World Champion ends his season on a high in Italy with 25th victory of the year secured at Italian Monument
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tadej Pogačar storms to fourth consecutive Il Lombardia victory after 48km solo breakaway
World Champion beats Remco Evenepoel by more than three minutes after devastating attack on the Colma di Sormano
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'deselected' from Ineos Grenadiers squad for Il Lombardia
British rider says 'I guess off season starts early' in Instagram post
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Farewell Thibaut Pinot: Once more with feeling
The Groupama-FDJ rider will be missed, not just for his performances on the bike, but for his emotion
By Adam Becket Published
-
Pogačar still reigns, and farewell to Valverde and Nibali: Five talking points from Il Lombardia
The final WorldTour race of the season saw Enric Mas come close once again, and Julian Alaphilippe disappoint
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
-
Strava data reveals huge performances from Fausto Masnada, Alejandro Valverde, and Mike Woods in Il Lombardia 2021
The KoM for the decisive penultimate climb fell in this year’s edition of the Italian Monument
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Five talking points from Il Lombardia 2021
Tadej Pogačar finishes the season on a high as he wins his second Monument
By Jonny Long Published
-
Tadej Pogačar takes second Monument with victory at Il Lombardia 2021
The Slovenian beat Fausto Masnada in a two-up sprint
By Jonny Long Published