Tadej Pogacar received a fifth straight Il Lombardia to equal Fausto Coppi’s document of whole wins within the race as he as soon as once more put his rivals to the sword with a ferocious assault on a climb.
The Slovenian accelerated away from a choose group of favourites with 38km to go and after catching Quinn Simmons – the final remaining rider from the breakaway, who had began the climb with a three-minute lead – the world champion soloed to victory within the last Monument of the season.
In doing so he turned the primary rider in historical past to win a Monument 5 instances in a row, and the primary man to complete on the rostrum of all 5 Monuments in the identical season.
Having received the Tour of Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege earlier within the season, he’s additionally the primary man since Belgian legend Eddy Merckx in 1975 to win three Monuments, the Tour de France and the world title in a single season.
Pogacar revealed he had had a “actually cool” telephone name with the Belgian nice following his win, however added he was bored with being in comparison with Merckx.
“I do not like that on a regular basis it is advisable evaluate to any individual. No one likes to be in comparison with any individual on a regular basis,” he stated.
The 27-year-old made his transfer on the Passo di Ganda climb and completed nearly two minutes forward of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, with Australia’s Michael Storer manner again in third.
“To win 5 instances in a row… each time I begin it appears like this race is suited to me, but additionally on the similar time that with such staff round me we are able to pull it off,” stated Pogacar.
“I at all times say, seven years in a row now, that is my finest season, and once more I can say that is the most effective season up to now.”
