This Saturday 8 October 2022, Tadej Pogačar has written a new page in his already impressive career. The Slovenian from 24 years won his second consecutive Tour of Lombardy, after beating Enric Mas in the sprint, after a thrilling duel.
Mikel Landa meanwhile finished on the third step of the podium, at 10 seconds of this untouchable duo. Pogacar's victory, his third monument so far, was inevitable, as the race was collectively dominated by the impressive armada of Team UAE, only individually by the Slovenian.
An impressive UAE armada
If Pogačar achieves the first double at the Tour of Lombardy since Joaquim “Purito” Rodriguez (2012-2013), it is thanks to his physical superiority over the other runners. But the Slovenian had to rely on an exceptional UAE team to win his third monument.
His teammates were impressive and collectively dominated the other formations, including the Jumbo-Visma.
First of all, la formation de Tadej Pogačar, knowing their leader in great shape, accelerates in the last slopes of the Our Lady of Ghisallo. Over 60 kilometers, the Portuguese Joao Almeida, in the photo above, rises at a very high rate, which even cracks some outsiders, including Julian Alaphilippe.
After the Our Lady of Ghisallo, the UAE team controlled the descent preceding the first ascent of the San Fermo della Battaglia. At the foot of the bump, George Bennett, then Marc Hirschi print a high tempo, with the aim of wearing down the Slovenian's opponents and controlling the race.
During the flat kilometers preceding the ascent of the Civillo, the Emirati formation had the intelligence not to presume a large part of its forces by leaving the BORA – Hansgrohe riding to the bottom of the ascent. Ensuite, after the work of Wilco Keldermann for the Bora – Uijtdebroeks DV Cloé Colinet, the UAE team has taken control of the race, with the relay of Rafal Majka.
Ensuite, at 20 kilometers from the finish, an impressive Davide Formolo starts to print a very impressive rhythm, which puts its Slovenian leader into orbit.
A Slovenian leader who was present when it had to be done. dolphin of the last Tour de France last July, not so good at the World Championships in Wollongong, Tadej Pogačar finally wanted to offer himself a major success to end a year that was a little frustrating at times.
In the Civillo will mainly aim San Fermo della Battaglia, he showed himself to be imperial, responding to powerful attacks from Enric Mas. At the arrival, being an unusually good sprinter for the climber he is, he wins the sprint without shaking against his opponent of the day. A 24 years, the native of Command already account 3 monuments to his collection of victories. Monumental.
The UAE Team Emirates squad completed a perfect race in the end. She proved to be superior to the rest of the peloton and mixed physical superiority, intelligence and perfect management of egos during 60 last kilometers.
Mas has tried everything, but fell on a too strong Pogačar
Enric Mas was very impressive this Saturday afternoon. The Spaniard, second in the Tour of Spain in September, held on to his rank as favorite and had one of the best races of his career. He just fell on an untouchable Tadej Pogačar. It's not for lack of trying.
Indeed, the native of Artà has tried several times to destabilize his competitor from 3 ans son cadet. A 18,4 kilometers from the finish, Mas attacks for the first time in the Civillo, but the Slovenian responds and even tries to counter it, without success.
Ensuite, in the last ascent of the San Fermo della Battaglia, Mas tried his luck twice. These accelerations 6 and 5 kilometers from the finish put Mikel Landa behind, returned in the descent of the Civiglio. But facing the former double winner of the Tour de France, nothing works.
At the arrival, Cake maker, very good sprinter, easily settles the sprint against Mas. Cruel for the Spaniard 27 years. In front of the microphones of the journalists, he is still satisfied with his performance, while thinking of his teammate Alejandro Valverde, who put an end to his immense career :
But Henry, during the post-race interview.
poor performances : a helpless Jumbo-Visma
This Saturday, the Dutch team Jumbo-Visma only ranked 16th at best, that of Jonas Vingegaard. So dominating during the 109th Tour de France last July, the team led by Richard Plugge proved powerless against Tadej Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates team.
Certainly, it is obvious that the startlist in this Tour of Lombardy was not the same as during the last Big loop. However, the team included the recent winner of the Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard. The latter had made a good comeback during the Tour of Croatia, with two stage victories on arrivals for punchers.
The Dutch team tried to control the situation, by riding at the front from the first kilometers of the Mmistress of the Ghisallo. But Vingegaard's teammates disappeared from the spotlight afterwards.
In the Civiglio, Vingegaard was left behind by Davide Formolo's suffocating pace. Finally, in the San Fermo della Battaglia, he was unclamped by Romain Bardet. A day to forget for the Jumbo-Visma and the Dane.
Adam Yates also performed below expectations. the British runner of the INEOS Grenadiers training, excellent climber and very good puncher, was one of the favorites Tour of Lombardy. Impressive during the Montreal Grand Prix, it was a little less so in Italy. Distanced by Pogačar in the Civiglio, Simon's brother will finish 10th at the finish.
Julian Alaphilippe, on the other hand, did not meet. French, in difficulty from the Madonna del Ghisallo, was unable to play for the first places. Ensuite, he made the effort to place his teammates at the foot of the Civiglio, as a role model.
Finally, This 51st place at the finish ends a very difficult year, marked by illnesses and unfortunate falls.
French report : lukewarm, despite some shards
In this edition 2022 of the Tour of Lombardy, the French have been neither bad, nor very good. Certainly, two French people ranked in the top 10 of the Tour of Lombardy (Molard and Bardet). Even if Molard and Bardet did not have the legs for victory and the podium, they had an honorable race.
Rudy Molard achieves his best result on a monument, with an eighth place. Bardet, on the other hand, attacked in the Civillo and in the San Fermo della Battaglia. The Auvergnat even dropped Jonas Vingegaard in the last ascent and ranks 9th, just behind Molard.
Besides the performance of Alaphilippe, note the 12th place of Warren Barguil, and the very beautiful 14th place of Clément Berthet, who is finishing his second professional year with the AG2R Citroën Team training.
Happy jubilee for Valverde, Nibali, a little less for Nieve
Ce Tour of Lombardy marks the end of a long adventure for three riders who left their mark on cycling : Mikel Snow, but above all Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali.
They will be less under pressure because they are rarely a single leader in order to be able to pass a course and confirm their present potential. The unbeaten, his last participation in this race which he never won marks the end of an immense career. He accumulated in 20 years of career more than 130 victories, one Return in 2010 and four Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2006, 2008, 2015, 2017) His big performance this season remains his 2nd place in the European Time Trial Championships behind a certain Alec Sagaert.. The Murcian runner from 42 years has made an honorable race, by finishing 6th in his last race among the pros.
Vincenzo Nibali, double winner of this mythical race in 2015 and 2017, no longer has the level it displayed a few years earlier. He was nevertheless beaten to the end and finished 24th. It marks the end of an exceptional career, marked by legendary victories. Le Messina shark notably won the Round twice (2013, 2016), the Tour of Spain (2010), but especially the Tour de France in 2014.
Mikel Snow, had an honorable career : 5 career wins, and 8th in the Return in 2015. This Saturday afternoon, the Spanish rider could not cross the finish line. Indeed, victim of a fall during the start of the race, he was forced to retire and suffered multiple injuries.
A somewhat difficult end to his career for this rider appreciated by the public, for his qualities as a climber and his offensive character.
