Tadej Pogacar looking to "shake things up" at Il Lombardia's climbs

Tadej Pogacar came into Il Lombardia as the defending champion, and will the difficult task of reconsolidating the title. The Slovenian is leading a strong UAE Team Emirates team into the race, and has shown the necessary form to fight for the win.

“I think every race I go to, there’s some pressure, and that’s not a problem. I’m looking forward to Il Lombardia. I had a few really nice moments in 2022, all the victories were all special," he told reporters this Friday. “The Tour de France stages are always special and feel like the time you win one for the first time. Montreal was a big win for sure and Strade Bianche was super great. I wasn’t on the podium at Flanders but I enjoyed the race. I hope for another great memory at Il Lombardia.”

What will be taken on today is a long race in northern Italy with almost 5000 meters of climbing and 253 kilometers on the menu. A day which should suit Pogacar quite well, and he's coming in ambitious. “It’s perhaps not as big as it once was and that’s maybe because it's one of the last races of the season. But I like it,” he said.

“It’s a race for the pure climbers. Not as big as Flanders, Paris-Roubaix or other Monuments but it's still a pretty big thing in Italy. For me it’s a really beautiful race. Finishing the season at Il Lombardia is something beautiful for me," the 24-year old said. Following a second place at the Giro dell'Emilia and the win at Tre Valli Varesine, he's shown the legs to be among the main favourites.

“The parcours has changed but it’s about the same metres of altitude. It's a hard climbers race. Lombardy is really hard and just like a Grand Tour mountain stage, where the climbers battle for victory at the end," he added. “We’ll have to take responsibility for the race but that’s okay. I hope to have good legs, so that we can shake things up in the final."

His rivals are the two men that have beaten him this year, according to himself. Jonas Vingegaard is coming off a lengthy period off the bike, however Enric Mas has just directly beat him at the Giro dell'Emilia, and both are the names most mentioned by Pogacar.

“I think Enric and Jonas are threats because they've shown good form and can climb but it’s not only about them, I expect at least 10 riders in the final, fighting for the victory. I hope to be one of them. My race plan? To outsprint them!” he conidently said.