Another brilliant performance by Tadej Pogacar allowed him to win, for the third consecutive year, the Dead Leaves Classic in a season in which the classics have been his main source of joy. This triumph means adding two monuments, Flanders and Lombardy, in the same season.
The Slovenian distanced himself from his rivals on the descent of the Passo di Ganda and managed to reach the finish line alone, despite having cramps. He thus concluded an impressive campaign that began in February when he won his first race of the season, the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior.
The UAE Team Emirates rider once again showed glimpses of his entire category in a demanding 238-kilometer long route that starts in Como and ends in Bergamo. The podium of the Dead Leaves Classic was completed by the Italian Andrea Bagioli (Soudal – Quick Step) and his compatriot Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma).
The best Latin American rider was the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) with an eighth place, just over a minute behind the winner, despite suffering a costly fall before climbing the last big climb of the segment: the Passo di Ganda.
In the first part of the race Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Dstny) was a great protagonist. The Belgian escaped in the company of Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan), Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies), Mattia Bais (EOLO -Kometa), Simon Geschke (Cofidis), Jacob Eriksson (Tudor), Kamil Małecki ( Q36.5 Pro Cycling ), Asbjørn Helleberg (Lidl-Trek) and Nicolò Buratti (Bahrain – Victorious).
Before the climb to the famous church of Madonna del Ghisallo, the peloton was surprised by a fall. Remco Evenepoel, one of the top favorites for victory, was involved. The Soudal Quick-Step leader was able to continue on his way, although with a very bloody left elbow, but despite everything he managed to return to the peloton.
Later the Irish champion Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) accelerated, however, the revelation of the spring races did not have much space and the Jumbo-Visma men set a strong pace at the head of the peloton, so their advantage was always It was controlled.
With Pogacar, Vlasov, Bagioli, Roglic, Rodríguez, Simon and Adam Yates leading the way, the descent of the Passo di Ganda began. Uphill, Pogacar was unable to make a difference, but the UAE leader tried to surprise his rivals downhill. Roglic, could not close the gap.
Pogacar managed to increase his lead to 45 seconds in the first flat kilometers, but about ten kilometers from the end he suddenly hit his thighs, a sign of cramps. However, the Slovenian managed to maintain a good pace and was also “lucky” because cooperation with his pursuers was difficult. As a result, Pogacar started the last hill of the day, the Colle Aperto (1.6 km at 8%) with a lead of just under a minute.
Pogacar climbed the short climb with great panache and achieved a new victory in Il Lombardía alone in great style. After victories in 2021 and 2022, this season he did it again at just 25 years old.
Source: Agency News