Pogacar outsprints Masnada to win IL Lombardia

Pogacar finishes 2025 season with fifth straight Il Lombardia Victory

Pogacar Clinches Fifth Straight Il Lombardia, Equals Coppi and Joins Merckx in Monument Glory

Pogacar finishes 2025 season with fifth straight Il Lombardia Victory

Tadej Pogacar sealed a historic fifth consecutive Il Lombardia victory on Saturday, storming to the finish in Bergamo after a decisive attack on the Passo di Ganda and confirming his status as the dominant force in one-day racing. The Slovenian superstar crossed the line nearly two minutes clear of Remco Evenepoel, becoming the first rider since Eddy Merckx in 1975 to claim three Monuments in a single season.

The 241km course routed through the narrow and winding roads of northern Italy, covering the Madonna del Ghisallo (8.8km at 3.9%), San Gottardo (2.7km at 6.5%), Roncola (7.5km at 7.4%), Berbenno (6.9km at 4.9%), Passo della Crocetta (11.7km at 5.8%), Zamla Alta (9.8km at 3.3% with steeper pitches at the top), Passo di Ganada (10km at 7.1%) before the final short climb over Colle Aperto (1.3km at 7.4%) and a descent into the finish line in Bergamo.

Pogacar’s powerful UAE Team Emirates squad controlled the race for much of the 241km classic, allowing the 27-year-old to launch a trademark, race-winning move with about 38 kilometres remaining. Only early escapee Quinn Simmons had briefly held the lead, but Pogacar’s solo surge on the key climb shattered the chase and turned the day into a coronation. The win equals Fausto Coppi’s record for Il Lombardia victories and pushes Pogacar’s career Monument count to 10 — putting him within striking distance of Merckx’s all-time tally.

“This race always feels made for me, and with such a strong team we can make it happen,” Pogacar said after the finish. “To win five times in a row is unreal. I always say every season is my best season, and again I can say this is the best season so far.” His statement underlines a campaign that has combined tactical mastery, raw climbing power, and flawless team support to deliver a series of landmark results across the calendar.

The victory not only cements Pogacar’s dominance at Il Lombardia — the so-called “Race of the Falling Leaves” — but also highlights a season of rare achievement: three Monuments won in one year, a feat last achieved by Merckx half a century ago. With nine Monuments still to match Merckx’s record and already outpacing most contemporaries, Pogacar’s legacy in the sport continues to expand. Remco Evenepoel, finishing second once more this autumn, confirmed the growing rivalry at the top of the peloton that has defined the season’s biggest races and championships.

Backed by a star-studded team which included the likes of Isaac del Toro and Adam Yates, Pogacar plugged away in the peloton for much of the race as a breakaway containing Simmons pushed ahead early on.

American Simmons attacked from the break on the Passo della Crocetta climb and was 50 seconds in front of the chasers -- and over three minutes ahead of the peloton -- by the time he hit the crest of that ascent with over 70km remaining.

That gap to Pogacar and company held steady while the original break was slowly brought back into the main group, and by the time the bulk of the race reached the Passo di Ganda Simmons' lead had been cut by a minute.

Pogacar finally made his move on that climb, exactly as he did two years ago, once the peloton crumbled in the face of the punishing pace set by his teammate Jay Vine with Del Toro holding off the competition.

From there Pogacar slashed at Simmons' lead and caught him some way before the summit, and from there it was a one-man procession to a historic win.

2025 Il Lombardia Results Top 10

01 Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 05:45:53
02 Evenepoel Remco Soudal Quick-Step + 01:48
03 Storer Michael Tudor Pro Cycling Team + 03:14
04 Simmons Quinn Lidl-Trek + 03:39
05 del Toro Isaac UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 04:16
06 Pidcock Tom Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 04:16
07 Seixas Paul Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale + 04:16
08 Bernal Egan INEOS Grenadiers + 04:16
09 Vine Jay UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 04:18
10 Uijtdebroeks Cian Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 04:30