Tadej Pogačar starts Saturday’s Il Lombardia with number 1 on his back and many people expecting a second consecutive victory from the Slovenian.
His Tour de France nemesis Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Enric Mas (Movistar) and grand retirees Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde are just some of his expected rivals but Pogačar, as ever, is not perturbed or feeling the pressure.
“I think every race I go to, there’s some pressure, and that’s not a problem. I’m looking forward to Il Lombardia,” he told the media, including Cyclingnews, gathered at the UAE Team Emirates hotel near Bergamo, on Friday afternoon, clearly keen to end his 2022 season on a high.
During the 2022 season, Pogačar dominated the UAE Tour again, won Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico, fought for victory at the Tour of Flanders, won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal and was second in the Tour de France. Of course, the Tour de France will always set the benchmark of his season and distort the optics.
“I had a few really nice moments in 2022, all the victories were all special,” he suggested.
“The Tour de France stages are always special and feel like the time you win one for the first time. Montreal was a big win for sure and Strade Bianche was super great. I wasn’t on the podium at Flanders but I enjoyed the race. I hope for another great memory at Il Lombardia.”
The fifth Monument of the season has perhaps lost some prestige as it has been squeezed by an ever bigger global calendar. Filippo Ganna’s Hour Record and the inaugural Gravel World Championships have also stolen some attention.
But Pogačar appears to be a traditionalist. He wants to win Il Lombardia and will end his season on the shores of Lake Como and under the falling leaves, like the greats of the sport did.
“It’s perhaps not as big as it once was and that’s maybe because it’s one of the last races of the season. But I like it,” he said.
“It’s a race for the pure climbers. Not as big as Flanders, Paris-Roubaix or other Monuments but it’s still a pretty big thing in Italy. For me it’s a really beautiful race. Finishing the season at Il Lombardia is something beautiful for me.”
Taking on Mas and Vingegaard
Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates teammates studied the 2022 race route between Bergamo and Como in detail on Thursday. Pogačar won in Bergamo last year but is well aware that the final climbs of San Fermo della Battaglia, the Civiglio and then San Fermo…
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