Il Lombardia Race Report: Tadej Pogačar dropped the highest males within the main group to solo to victory in Bergamo. His third in a row Il Lombardia and his fifth monument. The opposite stars couldn’t pull the Slovenian champion again even when he had cramp within the final kilometres. Andrea Bagioli was second and Primož Roglič third at 51 seconds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=synvS0RI5bk
Il Lombardia highlights

Tadej Pogačar has received the Tour of Lombardy for a 3rd consecutive time. The Slovenian from UAE Crew Emirates rode away from an elite group on the descent of the Passo di Ganda after which soloed to his fifth monument victory.

Tadej Pogačar takes his third in a row Il Lombardia

The Route of Il Lombardia introduced by Crédit Agricole
Beginning in Como, and heading for Cantù, the route takes within the Ghisallo (coming from Asso), descends into Bellagio and reaches Lecco, working alongside the lakeshore. After coming into the province of Bergamo, the route takes in a succession of climbs and descents, with practically no flat stretches in-between, main all the way in which to the end. After negotiating the Roncola (Valico di Valpiana, with gradients reaching 17%), the riders shall be tackling Berbenno, Dossena, Zambla Alta and Passo di Ganda, with a complete altitude achieve of over 4,400m. Previous Ganda, the route arrives in Selvino the place it takes an extended descent comprising 19 hairpins. The next 9 kilometres (the one flat stretch of the race finale) function an strategy to town. The route then passes by Città Alta, heading for the end.

Il Lombardia’23 map

Closing kilometres
Within the remaining kilometres, the route runs throughout the higher metropolis (Bergamo Alta), climbing as much as attain Porta Garibaldi after which Largo Aperto (protecting 200 metres on pebble paving). Within the first half, gradients by no means fall under 10% (with a most of 12%). Alongside the descent, the roadway is broad and the floor is clean. With 1,800m to the end, a pointy bend and a brief stretch of narrowed roadway lead by Porta Sant’Agostino. The highway takes a large bend to the left after the flamme rouge, resulting in the end line. The house stretch (800 m lengthy, on 7.5 m broad asphalt highway) runs initially downwards and ranges out afterwards.

Il Lombardia’23 profile

The 2023 Il Lombardia was billed as a three-way battle between two-time Il Lombardia winner Tadej Pogačar, man-in-form Primoz Roglič and Remco Evenepoel, who has unhealthy recollections of the final Monument of the season. These high riders stored their powder dry within the first a part of the race, however many different riders had been keen to affix an early break. Within the opening kilometres, ten riders arrange an early escape.

Tadej Pogačar searching for his third Il Lombardia win

Thomas De Gendt was within the main group and the Belgian escape skilled of Lotto Dstny had Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan), Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies), Mattia Bais (EOLO-Kometa), Simon Geschke (Cofidis), Jacob Eriksson (Tudor), Kamil Małecki (Q36.5), Asbjørn Helleberg (Lidl-Trek) and Nicolò Buratti (Bahrain Victorious) with him. The peloton was not pleased with the state of affairs.

There was a number of speak round Primoz Roglič this week – Off to BORA-hansgrohe for 2024

A number of riders tried to cross over to the lead group. Filippo Ganna and Ben Swift for INEOS Grenadiers and Martin Marcellusi and Alex Tolio of Inexperienced Challenge-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, Nils Brun (Tudor), Nicola Conci and Tobias Bayer of Alpecin-Deceuninck all tried to cross. The chasing group appeared to be caught between break and peloton, however they got here collectively on the climb to the church of Madonna del Ghisallo.

Remco Evenepoel will need to have had a troubled week with all of the merger controversy

There was a crash within the peloton within the run-up to the primary climb. Evenepoel, one of many high favourites, was concerned and stayed on the bottom for a very long time. Luckily, the Soudal Fast-Step chief was capable of proceed, however with an injured left elbow. Sjoerd Bax of UAE Crew Emirates was not so fortunate and needed to abandon the race.

Diego Ulissi and double winner Vincenzo Nibali in the beginning

On the entrance of the race: Swift, Tolio, Marcellusi, Brun, Conci and Bayer, Ganna had been dropped, joined the unique eleven leaders, we now had a break of 16 riders. The peloton let this group go and the lead elevated to greater than 4 minutes. Jumbo-Visma took management of the peloton for Roglič.

Goodbye Thibaut Pinot

The Dutch crew had assist from EF Training-EasyPost, which had Richard Carapaz and Ben Healy within the hunt for victory. As a result of work of those groups within the peloton, the lead began to shrink. On the summit of the Roncola the distinction was simply over 2 minutes. On this climb of 9.4 kilometres at 6.6%, Soudal Fast-Step took command for Evenepoel and began to make the race robust for the bunch.

The break of the day was finally: Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Tobias Bayer & Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan), Nicolò Buratti (Bahrain Victorious), Simon Geschke (Cofidis), Mattia Bais (EOLO-Kometa), Martin Marcellusi & Alex Tolio (Inexperienced Challenge-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Ben Swift (INEOS Grenadiers), Asbjørn Hellemose (Lidl-Trek), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Dstny), Kamil Malecki (Q36.5), Nils Brun & Jacob Eriksson (Tudor) and Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies)

The primary sufferer of Mauri Vansevenant’s work was Enric Mas of Movistar. The Spanish climber, second in Il Lombardia final yr and fourth within the Giro del’Emilia final week, didn’t look comfy and climbed off his bike quickly after being dropped. The leaders had began the Passo della Crocetta (11km at 6%) and it was Battistella who placed on the strain and break up the break.

Jumbo-Visma managed the peloton alongside Lake Garda

There was additionally an assault within the peloton from Ben Healy and Oscar Onley. The assault by the Irish champion and the younger Scot was very early within the race. They will need to have felt good and tried to cross to the thinned out main group, however Jumbo-Visma didn’t allow them to go simply. In the back of the peloton, the door was broad open and riders had been getting dropped. Healy and Onley managed to affix the leaders after an extended combat.

One of the best beard within the peloton – Simon Geschke was off the entrance

Healy went straight to the entrance within the following kilometres and determined to proceed. Solely Onley, Tolio, Marcellusi and Prodhomme managed to stick with him to offer us 5 leaders on the high of the Zambla Alta, with greater than 60 kilometres to go to the end. There was a second crash within the peloton, Mikel Landa and Richard Carapaz being the largest manes. The Ecuadorian was quickly again on his bike, however Landa, third final yr, took longer to get well.

The Santuario della Madonna del Ghisallo got here early within the race and in the other way

It regarded just like the Spanish climber would finish his final race with Bahrain Victorious in a nasty means, however finally he was capable of proceed. Healy gave a number of effort on the descent of the Zambla Alta. Marcellusi was the one rider who may observe the wheel of the Irishman and these two began the Passo di Ganda with a small lead. Tolio, Prodhomme and Onley had by now been caught.

Into Bellagio and Lake Como

Healy and Marcellusi had been nonetheless using strongly, however the peloton was gaining on them. On the foot of the Passo di Ganda the lead was round 40 seconds and this was not sufficient for the 2 escapees. Marcellusi was the primary to be caught, Healy tried to carry out a bit longer on his personal, however he was additionally caught.

Not day for Filippo Ganna punctures and a motorbike change, his INEOS Grenadiers crew had a number of punctures immediately

Adam Yates opened the motion and was joined by Julian Alaphilippe. Not a lot later, these two had been joined by high favourites Roglič and Pogačar, Simon Yates, Aleksandr Vlasov, Carlos Rodriguez, Michael Woods, Richard Carapaz, Chris Harper, Antonio Tiberi, Andrea Bagioli and Fausto Masnada. Evenepoel was lacking and wouldn’t see the entrance of the race once more. On the entrance, the 2 Slovenians simply checked out one another.

Remco Evenepoel had a crash early within the day

The peloton stayed collectively for a very long time behind the break

The poker sport between the 2 let a number one group type with out Roglič and Pogačar. Pogačar didn’t anticipate lengthy and shortly crossed to the group after which went solo. Vlasov managed to shut the hole on Pogačar with obvious ease, and got here by to work. Roglič didn’t look nice, however did deliver himself again into the race.

Oscar Onley and Ben Healy crossed to the break

The peloton was ready for the ultimate climbs

Pogačar, Vlasov, Bagioli, Simon and Adam Yates, Roglič and Rodríguez began the descent of the Passo di Ganda. Pogačar was unable to make a distinction going up hill, however the UAE Crew Emirates rider stunned on the downhill. Roglič was unable to shut the hole and his countryman quickly had the lead. Pogačar took some dangers and had 30 seconds on the chasers.

Pogačar on his strategy to Lombardia No.3

The chase was on behind Pogačar, however it wasn’t ok

Pogačar managed to extend his result in 45 seconds within the first few flat kilometres and the race seemed to be over, however with about 10 kilometres to go he abruptly began to hit his thighs, an indication of cramp. The Slovenian was nonetheless capable of maintain tempo, behind him the co-operation within the chase was not good. In consequence, Pogačar took extra as he began the final climb of the day, the Colle Aperto (1.6km at 8%) with a lead of round 45 seconds.

Even a little bit of cramp wasn’t going to cease Pogačar

Hundreds of followers on the climb by Bergamo

Pogačar rode up this brief climb by previous Bergamo, surrounded by followers, with nice type and soloed to his third in a row Il Lombardia win. Within the dash for second place, Bagioli beat Roglič. Evenepoel battled on to crossed the road in ninth place.

Pogačar’s third Lombardia, however simply as blissful

Second place went to Bagioli from Roglič

Il Lombardia winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates): “To win for the third time in my third participation and for the second time right here in Bergamo, it’s a dream come true. I wished to win solo however I assumed Alexander Vlasov would stick with me for longer as a result of he was one of many strongest immediately. Within the second I acquired a bit hole, I did the descent significantly better than two years in the past. I acquired cramps on my proper leg and I’ve thought I used to be completed however I pushed by. It’s superb!”

The Lombardia 2023 podium

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Il Lombardia Consequence:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Crew Emirates in 5:55:33
2. Andrea Bagioli (Ita) Soudal Fast-Step at 0:51
3. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe
5. Simon Yates (GB) Jayco AlUla
6. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Crew Emirates
7. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers
8. Richard Carapaz (Eu) EF Training-EasyPost in 1:05
9. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step in 1:25
10. Andreas Kron (Den) Lotto Dstny.

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