Pogačar wins Il Lombardia for fifth consecutive year

Tadej Pogačar extended a remarkable run of dominance in professional cycling on Saturday, winning Il Lombardia for a fifth consecutive year in Bergamo to cap a season that added another major milestone to his palmarès. The 27-year-old Slovenian soloed clear on the Passo di Ganda with about 38 kilometres to go, caught long-time escapee Quinn Simmons and rode on to finish in 5 hours 45 minutes 53 seconds for a 1 minute 48 second margin over Remco Evenepoel. Michael Storer completed the podium more than three minutes behind.

The race unfolded around an early break that included Simmons, who launched a solo move from that group and spent nearly five hours out front before being reeled in on the Ganda. Pogačar’s UAE Team EmiratesXRG teammates set a brutal tempo on the climbs, allowing their leader to bridge to and pass Simmons, then power away from the chasers. Simmons placed fourth after his long-range effort. Tom Pidcock and Paul Seixas were among other notable finishers; Pidcock ended sixth.

Pogačar’s victory equals Fausto Coppi’s record of five wins in the season-ending Italian Classic and makes him the first rider to win the same Monument five times in a row. The result also...