Il Lombardia Race Report: On the finish of an thrilling Il Lombardia Tadej Pogačar repeated his win of final 12 months in Lombardy, this time out-sprinting Enric Mas with Mikel Landa a hundered metres behind in third place. Sergio Higuita and Carlos Rodríguez have been at 52 seconds and Alejandro Valverde at over 1 minute in sixth place.
The ultimate kilometre
The second Il Lombardia win for Tadej Pogačar
Tadej Pogacar gained the Tour of Lombardy for the second 12 months in a row. The Slovenian sprinted in forward of Enric Mas after the pair had escaped the others. Mikel Landa was with them, however was distance within the ultimate.
Goodbye to Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali
Il Lombardia’22 route:
From Bergamo, the riders head towards Val Seriana for a brief flat stretch earlier than tackling a sequence of climbs within the Pre-Alps across the metropolis. They are going to climb the Forcellino di Bianzano (Valle Rossa), the ascent of Ganda, the Passo della Crocetta in Dossena, the Forcella di Bura and Colle di Berbenno. A brief flat part brings the riders to Lake Como, after which ascend from Lecco to Bellagio for the traditional climb of Ghisallo the place it ramps as much as 14% with a number of hairpin bends. A really quick descent follows to Maglio. Because the riders attain Como, the race will cowl a ultimate circuit of 22km. After passing the town centre of Como the race climbs by means of San Fermo della Battaglia for the primary time (397m), then descend into Como earlier than crossing the end line for the primary time. A few kilometre later the powerful climb in the direction of Civiglio (614m) will start with slopes averaging round 10%, earlier than going again by means of Como to climb San Fermo della Battaglia for a second time. The final 10km is contained in the city of Como, following extensive avenues as much as a railway underpass the place the climb of San Fermo della Battaglia begins. The slope is round 7% (max 10%) with a slender carriageway and tough street floor. Round 5km from the end, a number of hairpins characteristic earlier than the highest of the climb. The descent on extensive, well-paved street with two well-lit tunnels and two massive roundabouts. At 600m from the end, there’s a final extensive flip to the left.
Il Lombardia’22 profile
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar was the highest favorite, however there have been loads of different potential winners. Two of them, Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali, have been using the final race of their profession. Proper from the beginning there have been assaults. Élie Gesbert was the primary to take a niche, however the Arkéa-Samsic Frenchman couldn’t get away. When he was introduced again, Alex Tolio (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè), Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan) and Simone Ravanelli (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) tried their luck. That they had a small lead on the Forcellino di Bianzano.
The beginning of the final Monument of the season
Behind; a bunch of eight have been chasing, six of them ultimately managed to cross. Alessandro De Marchi (Israel-Premier Tech), Lawson Craddock (BikeExchange-Jayco), Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo), Davide Bais (EOLO-Kometa), Luca Covili (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè), Natnael Tesfatsion (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) joined the entrance three on the Forcellino di Bianzano.
Bergamo was out to see the riders off
Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) additionally caught them on the Passo di Ganda, the second climb of the day. The ‘break of the day’ now consisted of ten riders. They took a most lead of 5:30. The lead didn’t get any larger as Movistar, Jumbo-Visma and UAE Staff Emirates began to drag within the peloton and the hole shortly narrowed to beneath 3 minutes.
Lawson Craddock was a part of the early break
With greater than 150 kilometres to go, there was a crash within the peloton involving Lorenzo Fortunato (EOLO-Kometa) and Mikel Nieve (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA). Nieve was additionally using his final race as a professional, however wouldn’t make it to the end. The unlucky Spaniard had to surrender. There was one other crash quickly after, this time Domenico Pozzovivo was the sufferer. Like Nieve, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert’s chief couldn’t proceed.
A day of the lakes
At 71 kilometres out, on the foot of the Madonna del Ghisallo, the escape was caught. INEOS Grenadiers had led the way in which in the direction of the climb, however when it began it Jumbo-Visma who took command. Because of the tempo set by Chris Harper, the peloton thinned out significantly, however the favourites had no issues but. That modified when João Almeida took over and Julian Alaphilippe, amongst others, couldn’t maintain on. The Frenchman was distanced the highest, however managed to shut the hole.
The peloton didn’t let the break take greater than 3 minutes within the first 100 kilometres
After the Madonna del Ghisallo the initiative remained with UAE Staff Emirates. They have been additionally in management in the course of the first climb of the San Fermo della Battaglia, the place there have been no assaults because of the excessive tempo. After crossing the road in Como for the primary time, there have been about thirty riders within the entrance group on the Civiglio.
Can the Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard do one thing in Lombardia?
Movistar saved the tempo excessive
The tempo was nonetheless excessive, which meant that many riders needed to let go, together with Vincenzo Nibali. UAE Staff Emirates accelerated once more for Pogačar, this cut up the race utterly. As a result of Davide Formolo’s stress, solely a handful of riders may comply with and when Pogačar made his transfer, solely Mas may go along with him. Jonas Vingegaard tried to leap, however clearly didn’t have the legs.
Climbing away from Lago di Como
Mas was the stronger climber
Mikel Landa was in a position to get to the 2 leaders, however couldn’t comply with when first Mas after which Pogačar attacked. The duo have been collectively on the prime of the Civiglio. Landa was not far behind and was in a position to catch them on the descent. The three set course for the San Fermo della Battaglia for the final time. Carlos Rodríguez and Sergio Higuita have been chasing behind, however have been already greater than 40 seconds behind.
Landa had a prime efficiency
On the San Fermo della Battaglia the three stayed collectively for a very long time, till Enric Mas threw his gauntlet down. Landa was dropped, however Pogačar wouldn’t be dropped. When Landa returned, Mas tried once more. The end result was the identical: Landa went was dropped, however Pogačar was in a position to comply with. Pogačar wished greater than to only comply with. The UAE Staff Emirates chief tried to do away with Mas, however the Spaniard held on.
Pogačar and Mas attacked one another within the ultimate
Mas put in some robust strikes, however Pogačar managed to cowl them
Pogačar and Mas began the final three, flat kilometres to the end collectively. Landa adopted at 10 seconds and wouldn’t handle to come back again. Within the dash for the win, Pogačar was in cost and gained his second Il Lombardia in a row. Mikel Landa completed in third place.
After the powerful finalé, the 2022 Il Lombardia would come all the way down to a dash between Tadej Pogačar and Enric Mas
One other win for Tadej Pogačar
Race winner, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) stated: “It’s actually superb to come back again and repeat the victory. I attempted to assault on Civiglio however Mas was clearly on the identical degree as me. I used to be nonetheless assured that I might beat him within the dash. At Giro dell’Emilia, I used to be nonetheless affected by the journey again from Australia, however I’ve felt higher and higher since. This victory makes it an nearly excellent 2022 season for me.”
The final goodbye to Alejandro Valverde from race organiser Mauro Vegni
# One other nice season over, bit not lengthy to attend for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – February twenty fifth 2023. #
Giro di Lombardia Outcome:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates in 6:21:22
2. Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar
3. Mikel Landa (Spa) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:10
4. Sergio Higuita (Col) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:52
5. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers
6. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 1:24
7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
8. Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9. Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM
10. Adam Yates (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:26.
The submit LOMBARDIA’22: Double Pogačar! appeared first on PezCycling Information.
