BRATISLAVA. It was one of the most emotional moments in cycling history. The Italian <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/09/sportgeschichte-at-september-29-kirchler-vastic-steinkogler-fc-red-bull-salzburg-fc-redbull-salzburg-carvalho-seisenbacher-neuper-and-brungraber-plus-sportwoche-39-2006/” title=”sportgeschichte.at September 29: Kirchler, Vastic, Steinkogler, FC Red Bull Salzburg, FC Redbull Salzburg, Carvalho, Seisenbacher, Neuper and Brungraber, plus Sportwoche 39/2006″>Paolo Bettini cried and pointed to the sky while crossing the finish line.
In 2006, he won the domestic race Around Lombardy, although he did not want to participate in it at first. He was going through a difficult period, as his brother Sauro died in a traffic accident only twelve days before.
“After that day, I never wanted to get on a bike again. I would prefer to erase it from my memory,” said the Olympic champion from Athens at the time.
With his fifth and final monumental victory, he honored his brother’s memory, defended his triumph and for almost 20 years was the last man to win the Tour of Lombardy in the rainbow jersey of the world champion.
Before the 118th year of this event, however, he suspected that things would change. “I have the impression that in a little while I won’t be,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Paolo Bettini’s emotional victory at the Tour of Lombardy 2006. (Author: REUTERS)
“If I were Pogačar, I would attack from a longer distance,” added Bettini, and the Slovenian executed this plan perfectly on the track.
The twenty-six-year-old cyclist crowned his exceptional form and overall season in which he achieved an incredible 25 victories. The best sprinter Tim Merlier doesn’t even have that many podium finishes combined (16-4-1).
Fourth win in a row
Pogačar was the favorite of the so-called classics of falling leaves also because he dominated the previous three years. While he succeeded in the man-to-man sprint in 2021 and 2022, last year he performed a 30-kilometer winning solo.
In 2024, he raised the performance bar even higher. When he got off his bike 48.4km before the finish, the rivals knew they would only be fighting for second place.
Unlike the World Championships, Pogačar went according to the set plan and attacked in the steepest passage of the Colma di Sormano climb.
“We went to see it three days ago, developing a similar pace to the race. It came out more or less according to my expectations.
The team did a great job and Pavel Sivakov was very strong at the end. He led me to a steep part, I attacked and it worked. I knew that if I had a lead, I would keep it,” said Pogačar.
VIDEO: Cut from the race Around Lombardy 2024
Remco Evenepoel should have been the main challenger in the absence of Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard, but he took his chances realistically.
Before the race, he accurately estimated the place where Pogačar would attack, but when it happened, he did not chase him frantically. “I tried to go at my own pace, which was the right thing,” he told Eurosport and continued:
“I got the lead on the descent and then it was a long time trial to the finish. I was dying a bit on the final climb, but I kept the second place.
I looked behind me more than before. Tadej’s loss was great. He showed how excellent he is, or has been throughout the season. He was stronger.”
It started and ended the same
In the end, Pogačar triumphed before the reigning Olympic champion by three minutes and 16 seconds, which is the biggest difference in the last 53 years.
At the same time, he is the first cyclist to win the World Championships, two Grand Tours and also two monumental classics in one season.
He started and ended his absolutely perfect season with the same gesture. Just like after his triumph at the Tour of Lombardy, he raised his bike above his head at Strada Bianche, where he performed an 81-kilometer solo.
“I started and ended the season with the same celebration. It was nice to pick up the bike again. I hope it will turn out to be nice photos,” said Slovinec.
Tadej Pogačar in the jersey of the world champion dominated the classic Round of Lombardy 2024. (Author: TASR/LaPresse via AP)
It was already the 81st victory of the season for the UAE Emirates team, which is by far the most. In second place is Lidl – Trek, which has only about half of them (42).
Even after Okolo Lombardska, Pogačar highlighted the work of the entire team.
“Many riders in the team can achieve good personal results – top 10, 5 or podium. I am very happy and honored that all these champions worked together for the team victory,” Pogačar is quoted by the cyclingpro.net website.
In the first interview after the race, he said that all the victories are special, but in the end he chose one that stands out. It was his big dream.
“Every victory has its own story and emotions, but this year the World Cup victory tops them all. It will be hard to beat,” he said.
