Between Como and Bergamo
Since 2014, Il Lombardia has settled into a well-defined identity, alternating its start and finish between Como and Bergamo from one year to the next.
The only exception came between 2017 and 2020, when every edition started in Bergamo and finished in Como along the shores of Lake Como. It is widely regarded as the toughest Monument on the cycling calendar and the only one that unquestionably belongs to the climbers.
Vincenzo Nibali delivered what remain Italy’s two most recent victories in 2015 and 2017, followed by Thibaut Pinot‘s emotional triumph in 2018 and Jakob Fuglsang‘s memorable victory in the unusual August edition of 2020, held during the COVID-19 pandemic. That race is also remembered for Remco Evenepoel’s terrifying crash on the descent from the Muro di Sormano, an accident that nearly ended his career.
Since 2021, however, the honour roll has belonged exclusively to Slovenia. Tadej Pogačar has won Il Lombardia five consecutive times, an unprecedented achievement that also allowed him to equal Fausto Coppi’s all-time record of five victories. Whether the finish is in Bergamo or Como has made little difference – Pogačar has turned the Race of the Falling Leaves into his personal playground.
And the feeling is that he is far from finished.
hall of fame
Although much of his career still lies ahead of him, Tadej Pogačar is already among the greatest riders in cycling history. And Il Lombardia has played a defining role in building his legend, as he has become virtually unbeatable in the Race of the Falling Leaves. Whether the route runs from Bergamo to Como or from Como to Bergamo, the outcome has been the same since 2021: Pogačar wins! He has now claimed five victories, equalling Fausto Coppi’s all-time record, but no rider before him had ever won the race in five consecutive editions. His remarkable streak began in 2021, when he outsprinted Fausto Masnada in a two-man sprint in Bergamo. A year later, in Como, he repeated the feat against Enric Mas. In 2023, he proved the smartest rider in the race, launching a perfectly timed attack just before the summit of the Passo di Ganda, catching everyone by surprise before riding solo to victory. In 2024, he simply blew the race apart, shattering the field on Colma di Sormano and eventually crossing the line with an astonishing 3’16” advantage over runner-up Remco Evenepoel, the biggest winning margin in over half a century. The script was similar in 2025, although this time his decisive move came on Passo di Ganda, with Evenepoel finishing 1’48” behind. The numbers of a phenomenon… and they seem destined to be rewritten once again.
Vittorie
5
Partecipazioni
5
