Tadej Pogacar dominated the competition to secure his fourth consecutive Il Lombardia victory, marking his 25th win of the 2024 season. The Slovenian prodigy surged ahead of the pack with just over 48km remaining and finished 3 minutes and 16 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel in second place. Giulio Ciccone secured a podium spot by making a move within the final 5km to overtake the chasing group, but this race was undeniably Pogacar's. The 26-year-old, who had already won two of the year's three grand tours and the world championship rainbow jersey, launched an attack on the final major climb, leaving the rest of the peloton in his wake. Evenepoel and other contenders could only watch as Pogacar powered away to achieve the largest margin of victory at Il Lombardia since Eddy Merckx in 1971.
"Every victory is special, and today is no exception," Pogacar said after crossing the finish line. "The team has worked incredibly hard all year for all the victories we've achieved, and today is no different. It was a tough, long race, and it all depended on our teamwork, but we performed exceptionally well, and I'm thrilled to win with the team." Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates teammates provided the perfect launchpad for his victory, delivering him to the Colma Di Sormano with the breakaway group in their sights. "We planned it this way," Pogacar explained. "The race is so challenging that in the end, the last 40km are essentially a one-on-one battle. I knew if I could create a decent gap at the top, I could make it to the finish, but you never know. There was a moment after the descent where it was deceptively downhill but really fast, then a bit up and down, and there I tried to push to gain some seconds and win the mental battle in this chase. Then it was just a matter of one by one to the finish."
Pogacar glanced over his shoulder before celebrating at the finish line, but there was no need. "I was just enjoying the crowds and looking forward to the off-season," he said. Another rider anticipating a break is Tom Pidcock, who was surprisingly omitted from Ineos Grenadiers' squad for the race when it was announced on Friday. Amid rumors of a potential departure from the British team, Pidcock revealed he was "deselected" from the season's final monument. "Just as things were looking up after a tumultuous end to the year, I was deselected for Lombardia tomorrow," Pidcock wrote on Instagram. "I'm in great shape and was really looking forward to it! Good luck to the boys; I guess the off-season starts early. Thanks to everyone for their support, even in tough times."
