Pogacar attacks to solo to Lombardy hat-trick

Pogacar emulates Italian legend Fausto Coppi with third IL Lombardia victory in a row

Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar attacked his rivals on the descent of the Passo di Ganda 30 kilometres from the finish to solo his third straight win. A bad dose of leg cramps saw him struggle to mantain his lead until he took on my nutrition.

With the win, the UAE Team Emirates leader has emulated the great Fausto Coppi by securing a hat-trick of victories in Il Lombardia.

The Slovenian finished 51 seconds ahead of a seven chasing riders led in by Andrea Bagioli (Soudal-QuickStep), who out srpinted Primož Roglic, making his final appearance in Jumbo-Visma colours, with Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) in fourth. Britain’s Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) and Adam Yates finished fifth and sixth.

Pogacar said afterwards, "To win the third time on my third appearance, second time here in Bergamo… It’s a dream to finish solo. It was fantastic. I enjoyed the last few kilometres, even though it was so, so painful"

Coming onto the Passo di Ganda, with 41km remaining, breakaway riders Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Martin Marcellusi (Green Project-Bardiani) held a 40-second lead. Adam Yates blew the peloton apart with an attack that saw Healy swallowed up and a number of favourites dropped, including Remco Evenepoel.

VIDEO: 2023 IL Lombardia Highlights

2023 IL Lombardia Top 10

1  POGACAR Tadej UAE Team Emirates 5:55:33
2  BAGIOLI Andrea Soudal - Quick Step 0:51
3  ROGLIC Primož Jumbo-Visma 0:51
4  VLASOV Aleksandr BORA - hansgrohe 0:51
5  YATES Simon Team Jayco AlUla 0:51
6  YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates 0:51
7  RODRÍGUEZ Carlos INEOS Grenadiers 0:51
8  CARAPAZ Richard EF Education-EasyPost 1:05
9  EVENEPOEL Remco Soudal - Quick Step 1:25
10  KRON Andreas Lotto Dstny 1:25