Il Lombardia 2023: Tadej Pogacar solos to third consecutive victory
Pogacar attacked successfully on the descent of the Passo di Granda to complete a rare hat-trick of wins in the Italian monument.
Cycling Road
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar completed a hat-trick of victories in Il Lombardia on Saturday (7 October).
In an entertaining and incident-packed race, Pogacar attacked with just over 30km to go on the descent of the Passo di Granda and - despite appearing to suffer from cramp during his solo effort - crossed the line in Bergamo almost a minute clear of his rivals.
The two-time Tour de France winner is only the third man to clinch three consecutive triumphs in the 'Race of the Falling Leaves', joining Fausto Coppi and Alfredo Binda.
This was also Pogacar's fifth win in his last nine monuments and marks him out as the most complete rider in road cycling with victories in cobbled classics like the Tour of Flanders and Grand Tours.
Afterwards, he admitted he had tried to attack on the Passo di Granda but ended up making his move on the descent where he was caught in 2021 before securing his first Il Lombardia victory.
Pogacar said, "It was just in the moment that I got a little gap. I knew the descent much better than two years ago - two years ago, this descent was a bit of a disaster. It was tough to go so far to the finish. Today was a super-hard race.
"I had cramp, first on my right leg and then on my left leg. I was thinking that was it but I pushed through and I lowered down a little bit the power. I just focused on being as 'aero' as possible to save myself for the final kick and I hope that behind there would not be such a great cooperation.
"Third participation, third win, second time here in Bergamo... It's a dream to come solo. Today, it was fantastic. I was enjoying the last few kilometres even if it was so so painful, I was enjoying it a lot."
With less than 40km remaining, only Brian Healy remained from an early breakaway but the Irishman was soon reeled in by the chasers.
Remco Evenepoel and Olympic champion Richard Carapaz were among those dropped as the action intensified at the front.
And then Pogacar made his break with Primoz Roglic - in his last race for Jumbo-Visma - and brothers Adam and Simon Yates unable to stay with him.
Pogacar was cheered on by masses of spectators as he took the closing Colle Aperto climb on his own, past the 'Curva Pinot' filled with supporters of French rider Thibaut Pinot in his final race, before arriving at the finish line in Bergamo.
The day's surprise package, Andrea Bagioli, took the sprint for second place ahead of Roglic with Aleksandr Vlasov in fourth ahead of the Yates brothers.
Il Lombardia 2023: Results
- Tadej Pogacar (SLO, UAE Team Emirates) - 5h55'33"
- Andrea Bagioli (ITA, Soudal-QuickStep) +52"
- Primoz Roglic (SLO, Jumbo-Visma) +52"
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +52"
- Simon Yates (GBR, Team Jayco Alula) +52"
- Adam Yates (GBR, UAE Team Emirates) +52"
- Carlos Rodriguez (ESP, INEOS Grenadiers) +52"
- Richard Carapaz (ECU, EF Education-Easyport) +1'06"
- Remco Evenepoel (BEL, Soudal-QuickStep) +1'26"
- Andreas Kron (NOR, Lotto-Dstny) +1'26"