Tadej Pogačar added another remarkable victory to his 2024 season by winning Il Lombardia (or Tour of Lombardy) for the fourth consecutive year, once again delivering a commanding solo ride in the final phase of the race.
The 255-kilometre race, which started in Bergamo and finished on the scenic shores of Lake Como, saw an early breakaway form, but it was Pogačar who stole the show after launching his decisive attack with 48 kilometres to go. Much like his performance at the World Championships earlier in the year, no one could match the Slovenian’s power on the climbs, particularly on the Colma di Sormano, where he surged clear.
Speaking after his win, Pogačar said, “This victory is very special. The race is so hard.” His commanding lead allowed him to cross the line 3 minutes and 16 seconds ahead of Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel, with Italian Giulio Ciccone finishing a distant third, 4 minutes and 31 seconds behind.
Reflecting on his season, Pogačar highlighted his World Championships win as the pinnacle of a year that also included victories at Strade Bianche and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. “Every victory has its own story, its own emotions, but I think this year, on top of them all is the World Championships. It’s hard to beat that one,” he shared, adding a note of humour about his victory celebrations, “I finished the season as I started it and with the same celebration. I hope it was a nice photo.”
Photo Credit: GettyFor the chasing riders, there was little hope of closing the gap once Pogačar attacked. Remco Evenepoel, who finished second, expressed his satisfaction with his result despite being unable to go with Pogačar on the Colma di Sormano. “I predicted that Tadej would attack about six kilometres from the top, on the steepest part of the Cormano. There was nothing anyone could do, and I didn’t want to blow trying to go with him,” Evenepoel said. He described the final stretch as “like a long time trial” but said he was proud of his effort, adding, “Second to Tadej is still a result and confirmed what I can do and what I’ve done this season.”
Evenepoel’s emotional finish to the race was clear as he crossed the line and embraced his partner, Oumi, who had surprised him with a trip to Italy. “When you finish second in such a hard but such a prestigious race there are always a lot of emotions,” he admitted.
Meanwhile, it was a challenging day for Tiesj Benoot and Wilco Kelderman, who were part of the early breakaway that shaped the race in its opening stages. Benoot later revealed that stomach issues hindered his performance as the race went on. “At the start, I felt strong, but later in the race, I started having some stomach issues. Everyone knew Pogačar would attack, but I believe a top result was still possible,” Benoot said.
Team director Marc Reef shared that the team’s strategy was to build a lead over the Colma di Sormano, but they couldn’t match the strength of Pogačar’s team. “Pogačar’s team kept the gap small and had everything under control. We’re satisfied with how we raced, though. We executed our plan and fought hard,” Reef said, acknowledging the Slovenian’s dominance on the day.
2024 Il Lombardia result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
