Pogacar Makes History with Record-Breaking Fifth Consecutive Il Lombardia Victory
Tadej Pogačar cemented his status as a cycling legend on Saturday, October 11, 2025, by winning Il Lombardia for an unprecedented fifth time in a row. The victory not only secures another monumental triumph for the Slovenian superstar but also marks the first time any rider has won all five of cycling’s major “monuments” in a single season.
The 241km race, traversing a challenging course around Bergamo, Italy, was widely anticipated as the premier pre-World Tour race of the year. Pogačar, riding for UAE Emirates, entered as the overwhelming favorite, with projections placing his chances at an astonishing 1.15 – a testament to his dominance.
Pogačar’s team boasted a formidable lineup, including Isaac del Toro, considered the third-biggest race favorite, alongside key support riders like Rafal Majka, Jan Novak, Sivakov, Vine, and Yates. The primary challenge to UAE Emirates’ dominance was expected to come from Remco Evenepoel (Soudal rapid-Step) and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), but a fall involving Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) was the only significant incident before a decisive move by Quinn Simmons. The American rider, demonstrating strong form since his performance at Tre Valli Varesine earlier in the week, launched a daring solo attack 82 kilometers from the finish line.
Simmons built a lead of three and a half minutes, forcing UAE Emirates to respond. He was briefly joined by Matthews, Vervaeke, summer, and Bilbao, but by the Crocetta Pass, Simmons held a 30-second advantage over the chasing group.
Despite leading by three and a half minutes, Simmons faced a challenging ten-kilometer flat valley before the ascent of the Ganda Pass, where he lost 30 seconds and crucial energy. Though, he remained a threat, even as Pogačar and Evenepoel began to close the gap.
The decisive moment came at the beginning of the Ganda Pass climb, where Pogačar initiated a blistering attack. Majka provided crucial support, alongside veteran riders Savior Pucciom (Ineos) and Simon Petillim (intermarché), driving a relentless pace that shattered the field. Jay Vine, Roglič (Red Bull), Bernal (ineos), and Pidcock (Q36.5) were all dropped in the wake of Pogačar’s acceleration.
With 37 kilometers remaining, Pogačar unleashed a devastating attack, quickly distancing del Toro and leaving Evenepoel with no response. He rapidly closed on Simmons, who had started the climb with a two-and-a-half-minute lead. Evenepoel and Michael Storer (tudor) managed to reach Simmons near the summit of the Ganda Pass, but Pogačar continued to extend his advantage. Isaac Del Toro and Paul Seixas (Decathlon) trailed a few seconds behind, while Roglič’s group was losing ground at three minutes.
Pogačar extended his lead to 80 seconds on the descent, leaving Evenepoel and storer behind. The final twenty kilometers saw no change in the race order, as Pogačar rode comfortably to victory in Bergamo.
“I don’t feel like a special racer, although winning Lombardy five times in a row is grate,” Pogačar stated after the race. “The route fits me very much and I always have a great team around me. Today everything went as we planned.”
Pogačar’s victory is historic, making him the first rider to win Il Lombardia five consecutive times and the first to complete a clean sweep of all five monuments in a single season. He amassed a remarkable 11,680 UCI points this year, surpassing his already remarkable total from the previous season. His only missed target remains Milan-Sanremo.
Evenepoel finished third, marking his debut Il Lombardia with a respectable result, while Michael Storer secured the first monumental stage for tudor in third place.Quinn Simmons,the day’s most valiant rider,finished fourth,and Isaac Del Toro rounded out the top five after a sprint with Tom Pidcock.
