Bahrain Victorious put on an impressive display at the last Monument of the season, as Mikel Landa took 3rd place on Il Lombardia.
The “Classic of the Falling Leaves” started from Bergamo and finished along Como lake after 253km, featuring some changes to the course but maintaining its characteristics of a race that suits the climbers. The initial hilly part in the Prealps around the town of Bergamo saw the attempt of a 10-man breakaway always kept under control by the peloton, particularly by the team of the favourite riders of the day. The attackers were caught approaching one of the iconic climb of the day, the Madonna del Ghisallo (with gradients up to 14%), which proved to be very selective.
The remaining riders at the front, among which our leader Mikel Landa, began their battle on the decisive part of the day, the final 30km circuit, to face two ascents of San Fermo della Battaglia and the Civiglio. There, the defending champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE) attacked with 19km to go, with only Eric Mas (Movistar) and Mikel Landa able to keep up with him. The Basque rider managed to retrieve a couple of times once he was dropped by the rivals, until the last ascent of San Fermo, where he couldn’t close the gap before the summit, leaving the duo contending the victory of the 116th Il Lombardia, with Pocagar outsprinting Mas. Landa, at his 11th appearance at this Monument, finally can celebrate a podium result, crossing the finish line in 3rd:
“I’m very happy. I really love this race. It’s probably my favourite one, but I never arrived in the best shape, while this time, I was feeling well and focused. I could enjoy this day. There was one moment that I thought that maybe I could win, as if they were looking at each other, maybe I could surprise them, but on the climbs, I was less strong than them to do that. They were among the favourites, and they proved why they were the strongest. It was a hard day, the pace has always been high, and it was difficult to find the right feeling, but I knew my shape was perfect and that I had just to follow my pace. It was important to end the season with this monumental podium”.
Bahrain Victorious Sports Director Alberto Volpi comments: “The target was the podium, so mission accomplished. It’s nice to end the season with this result. I’m satisfied with the teamwork and very happy for Mikel, as he deserved this podium. It’s good for the team and for him ahead of the off-season.
It unfolds as traditionally it happens with IL Lombardia. It’s not easy to keep the focus on this important race at the end of the season, but the guys were super good today with such strong competitors.
There was the traditional day’s breakaway and the selection made on Ghisallo, then the challenging final circuit, which was the toughest in the past. The Civiglio was the other key moment of the race. Mikel was attentive on this climb. We got the podium there. He didn’t surrender when the leading duo dropped him. He kept focused and managed to keep the third place”.
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