Two cyclists raised their arms at the finish line in Como, after 253 kilometers and more than 6 hours and 20 minutes on the bike. Tadej Pogacar won Il Lombardia, like last year, his third monument. The Slovenian, surrounded by Spaniards, took revenge on Enric Mas, who defeated him last week in the Giro dell'Emilia. One and no more, he told the Balearic cyclist in the final stretch. Even more excited entered the sixth. Alejandro Valverde sprinted to get a place of honor and was the fastest in his group. The Murcian, at the age of 42, on his last day of competition, raised his left hand as a sign of triumph and gratitude for an admirable, eternal career.
Valverde covered his number 181 in black. He was hardly seen. But he did not go unnoticed in his last race. Now will come the tributes, the splendors, the recognitions. But the Murcian wanted to say goodbye competing and being competitive. Although he knew he was a step below the climbers when they dance on the ramps.
The dance and war drums began on the climb to Civiglio, 20 kilometers from the finish. The UAE pulled and prepared the ground. All the favorites were warned that the time for Pogacar was approaching. But when the Slovenian started, only two could follow him: Enric Mas and Mikel Landa, the Spaniard and the Spaniard, the second in the Vuelta and the third in the Giro.
Vingegaard was caught off guard, late, poorly placed or tired, and could no longer connect. The same as Yates or Bardet. Valverde stayed with them. controlling.
Ahead, the one from Movistar, who is full of morale, not only stuck to Pogacar's wheel, but also collaborated with him and even attacked him three times. One in Civiglio. Two in San Fermo of the Battaglia. Pogacar responded. Just like when the Slovenian started he couldn't let go of the Spanish.
Of course, each whiplash was suffered by Landa, who made the rubber. He hung on the walls, connected going down. Until he had to give up and settle. The other two would play the victory. Pogacar launched the sprint and Mas did not lose face. They even went in parallel for a long time, paired, each one according to their trajectory. Closer to the left. Pogacar through the center. Both to the max. Until Pogacar saw that he had the advantage. And he was able to celebrate.
The Slovenian is becoming a devourer of classics and this year he signed up for the Strade Bianche, the Montreal GP and il Lombardia. “To win here again is incredible. We have run as we wanted. I have attacked and with Mas we have cooperated. In Emilia he was very strong and I had just arrived from Australia (from the World Cup). I knew that today I would have good legs”, said the winner, who has a but to his 2022: second place on the Tour after Vingegaard, who entered sixteenth. "The season is almost perfect," he mused.
“I am leaving Lombardy with hope for the future, and with sadness for saying goodbye in this way, with the high level that I have. But above all, very happy, for the great team that we have shown to be again, fighting until the end and working 10”, said Valverde, excited.
“I am happy to have completed 21 years as a professional and enjoyed great things. Now we give way to young people, hoping that they will also enjoy making this sport great”, he wished his successors. He was referring to Mas (second), Landa (third) but also to the Spanish champion, Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos), who was fifth at 21 years old, just ahead of Valverde, 42.
