2023-10-07 15:32:11
Cycling star Tadej Pogacar achieved a hat-trick in the Tour of Lombardy and made an impressive comeback following two and a half months without a win. The two-time Tour de France champion took victory in the last big classic of the year for the third time in a row on Saturday following 238 km from Como to Bergamo. Austria’s figurehead Felix Gall had to be demolished and was not represented at the top in the decision.
Pogacar won with a lead of 51 seconds over the Italian Andrea Bagioli and his Slovenian compatriot Primoz Roglic. After the last climb at Madonna del Ghisallo, Pogacar broke away from a small leading group around 30 km from the finish and increased his lead on the furious descent. A little later the Slovenian had problems in his thigh, possibly cramps. Nevertheless, the pursuers might no longer get close. His big opponent, Remco Evenepoel from Belgium, had to give up on the last climb and played no role.
Giro winner Roglic, who will ride for the Bora-hansgrohe team next year, initially made it into the top group with the last of his strength. But then he had nothing left to oppose his compatriot. In the final sprint of the chasing group, he stayed just ahead of the fourth-placed Russian Alexander Vlasov, with whom he will race together at Bora next year.
Pogacar is the first rider since the legend Fausto Coppi to win the Tour of Lombardy three times in a row. The Italian even triumphed four times in a row at the last of the five cycling monuments from 1946 to 1949. For Pogacar it was the first success this season since July 22nd, when he won the penultimate stage of the Tour.
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