Nat Bromhead
It was a case of three from three for Tadej Pogačar on Saturday, the Slovenian superstar winning his third straight Il Lombardia in Italy.
This year was a little different than his 2022 and 2021 victories, for his third appearance he wasn’t considered the race favourite due to several recent second, third and 4th place finishes.
But at the 117th running of the race Pogačar made his decisive move on the false-flat immediately after the KOM. Slipping clear, he didn’t look back and managed to hold off the chase group all the way to the finish in Bergamo.
“I tried to attack on the climb, which I know well,” said Pogačar. “I succeeded in going clear in the downhill, I rode it better than two years ago and was able to go solo to the arrival,” he added.
The Slovenian crossed the line close to a minute ahead of the chase group.
“Despite cramps, I tried to manage my effort, I slowed down a little bit, hoping that there was no cooperation in the chasing group.”
Pogačar said “it was great to win three editions in a row on three participations,”
“The solo arrival made this even greater,” he concluded. “I really enjoyed the last 2km.”
2023 Il Lombardia Top Three
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 5h55’33”
2. Andrea Bagioli (Soudal-QuickStep) +51”
3. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) s.t.
