Slovenian world champion Tadej Pogačar etched his name deeper into cycling immortality in Como, surging to a fourth consecutive victory at Il Lombardia with a breathtaking 48.4-kilometer solo breakaway. Riding for UAE Team Emirates in the UCI rainbow jersey, the 26-year-old completed the 255-kilometer course from Bergamo to Lake Como in 6 hours, 4 minutes, and 58 seconds.
After overnight rain forced organizers to modify the early neutral start and flood-affected sections in the Lombardy foothills, UAE Team Emirates systematically reeled in a large 21-rider breakaway approaching the fearsome ascent of the Colma di Sormano. Pogačar launched his trademark seated acceleration 6.5 kilometers below the summit, immediately distancing Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, Enric Mas, and Matteo Jorgenson.
Decisive Acceleration on the Colma di Sormano
Cresting the Sormano with a 65-second advantage over Evenepoel, Pogačar navigated the technical descent toward Nesso with total composure before extending his lead along the lakeside roads and over the final climb of San Fermo della Battaglia. By the time he raised his arms on Lungo Lario Trento e Trieste in Como, his margin over runner-up Evenepoel stood at 3 minutes and 16 seconds—the largest gap at the Race of the Falling Leaves in 58 years.
Italian one-day specialist Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek sprinted to third place at 4 minutes and 31 seconds behind, narrowly edging Ion Izagirre and Enric Mas in the chase group. Pogačar remains undefeated in every career start he has made at the Italian autumn classic since his 2021 debut.
“Winning Il Lombardia four times in a row in the rainbow jersey after a 48-kilometer solo attack is a dream ending to the best season of my cycling career.” — Tadej Pogačar, UCI World Champion and Il Lombardia Winner
Equaling Coppi and Concluding a Historic 25-Win Season
With four straight victories from 2021 to 2024, Pogačar matched the legendary streak set by Fausto Coppi between 1946 and 1949 and moved within one triumph of Coppi's all-time record of five career Il Lombardia titles. He also became the first reigning world champion since Eddy Merckx in 1971 to win the season's final Monument by more than three minutes.
The victory brought the curtain down on an unprecedented 2024 campaign in which Pogačar amassed 25 wins across 58 race days. Alongside Il Lombardia and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Slovenian swept the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, completing cycling's Triple Crown with unmatched dominance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose record did Tadej Pogačar match by winning four consecutive Il Lombardia titles?
Tadej Pogačar equaled the record of Italian cycling legend Fausto Coppi, who won four consecutive editions of Il Lombardia between 1946 and 1949.
By what margin did Tadej Pogačar defeat Remco Evenepoel at Il Lombardia?
Pogačar crossed the finish line in Como 3 minutes and 16 seconds ahead of second-placed Remco Evenepoel, marking the largest winning margin at Il Lombardia since 1966.
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