Tadej Pogacar closes the season in style: third consecutive victory in Lombardy
It was a long and logical wait until, in the Passo di Ganda, everything was decided with Tadej Pogacar, king of kings, showing his irrefutable arguments on a bright and warm day, presided over by the news of the breakdown of negotiations for the song fusion-absorption of Jumbo and Soudal.
It was hot, yeah. The “Fifth Monument” is still the “Fifth Monument”. But “the Race of the Dead Leaves” has been this year “the Race of the Dying Leaves”. In an autumn that does not just appear, subjected to a prolonged summer, the leaves do not finish dying. Languidecen. Agonizan. But they don't die.
With its 238 kilometers and 4,400 meters of elevation gain, Lombardy is, overall, a tougher classic than San Remo, Roubaix, Flanders and Liège. As in them, on the other hand, the usual skirmishes took place, more or less numerous, more or less lasting, until the moment of truth arrived, at the moment of truth and with the true champion: the mentioned, the expected, the decisive Passo di Ganda (9.2 kms. at 7.3%), in the final part of the race, where the Passo della Crocetta and other respectable slopes also accumulated.
Evenepoel was not included in the ointment. He had fallen as soon as he started pedaling, after the start in Como. He is screwed in Lombardy. Three years ago he “flew” over a parapet, on the Muro di Sormano, at the end of the test. This time he went to the ground at the beginning. Pained, he nevertheless led the second group of pursuers and, in addition, victoriously competed with them in the sprint. He has as much race as class. And self-love, which is the noblest and most permissible form of egoism, that love of oneself. Enric Mas had fallen with him, and he abandoned. Later, Mikel Landa 'kissed the asphalt'. Aside from their abilities and limitations, these two have bad looks.
Pogacar's Emirates had succeeded Roglic's Jumbo in control of the race. Without getting out of the saddle, Tadej attacked the hardest part of the Ganda. Se le unió Vlasov y, más tarde, Roglic, Carlos Rodríguez, los hermanos Yates, Vlasov, Bagioli y Carapaz. They then crowned the Passo and Pogacar, attacking again as soon as they began the very technical descent. He surprised his colleagues. They didn't expect something like this. And if they expected it, it was not at that moment and at that point, when you have to take a break after the extreme effort of the climb.. The meters that Pogacar took in those early and unexpected curves were decisive. “Ipso facto”, the Slovenian established a chronological and a psychological difference between him and the pack of alpha males.. Both insurmountable. Surprise. An essentially uphill race won downhill.
Pogacar, in the middle of a getaway. AFP
At one point during his ride, Pogacar seemed to suffer cramps. The blood did not reach the river. He maintained the differences. And, on the final slope of the Colle Aperto, in the beautiful Città Alta of Bergamo, between medieval and Renaissance walls, and human walls of enthusiastic fans, soaked in sweat, but relaxed, he savored the glory. He won his third consecutive Lombardy. And his second “monument” of the season, after his victory in Flanders. It was, in addition, his 17th victory of the year. Behind him, Bagioli and Roglic. In seventh place, Carlos Rodríguez.
Immense more than enormous, grandiose more than great, Pogacar once again gave an exhibition of class and wisdom. At 25 years old, only his future is more splendid than his present.