Il Lombardia 2023

The road

At the start

Como to Bergamo, and Coppi's mark

The last Monument of the year: 239 kilometres from Como to Bergamo, 4,600 metres of climbing, the Passo di Ganda the final obstacle. Tadej Pogačar has won the last two, and a third in a row would put him alongside Fausto Coppi. Primož Roglič, who out-sprinted him at the Giro dell'Emilia last week, rides his last race for Jumbo-Visma. Thibaut Pinot, winner here in 2018, retires this afternoon.

How it was won

1. 183 km to go

   Passo della Crocetta

   On the long grind of the Crocetta, eleven kilometres at six percent, both break and peloton begin to splinter. Ben Healy jumps clear in response to Oscar Onley, and the favourites' teams scramble to cover the move.

2. 235 km to go

   Passo di Ganda

   On the Passo di Ganda, the last big climb of the season, Pogačar detonates a stinging acceleration. Only Vlasov can cling on; Roglič, redlining, drags himself up towards the two leaders as the summit approaches.

3. 331 km to go

   The Ganda descent

   This is where Il Lombardia is won. Over the top Pogačar throws himself down the descent of the Ganda with total abandon, and the gap simply yawns open — thirty-one kilometres out he is alone and flying, a masterclass on the plunging bends.

4. 415 km to go

   Roglič cracks

   The effort to bridge has cost Roglič everything. On the run-in he fades badly, ceding the chase and slipping towards a fight for the minor placings while Pogačar's lead grows past forty seconds.

5. 53 km to go

   Colle Aperto

   Even a late bout of cramp cannot stop him. Pogačar dances up the Colle Aperto and over the cobbles into Bergamo's upper town, savouring a solo arrival.

6. 6At the line

   Bergamo

   Pogačar wins Il Lombardia for a third year running, closing the Monument season in style, as Bagioli pips a spent Roglič on the line for a career-best second.

The result