Pogacar caps stunning season with fifth straight Il Lombardia triumph

UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Tadej Pogacar won the Monument Il Lombardia for a fifth time in as many years on Saturday, equalling Fausto Coppi's record of victories in the season-ending race.

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Slovenian superstar Pogacar crossed the line first in Bergamo after a trademark attack on the key Passo di Ganda climb to blitz the rest of the field and become the first man since Eddy Merckx in 1975 to win three Monuments in a single season.

From the moment Pogacar was left to attack by his powerful UAE teammates with around 38 kilometres remaining of the 241km race there was no doubt of the final result, with only early breakaway artist Quinn Simmons out on his own one minute and 10 seconds up the road.

Pogacar finished nearly two minutes ahead of Remco Evenepoel, who again ended up second behind cycling's dominant force as he did at the recent world and European championships.

"To win five times in a row... every time I start it feels like this race is suited to me, but also at the same time that with such a good team around me we can pull it off," said Pogacar.

"I always say, seven years in a row this is my best season, and again I can say this is the best season so far."