Europe 1 with AFP 6:52 p.m., October 09, 2021

Two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar won the Tour of Lombardy this Saturday, beating Fausto Masnada in a two-man sprint.

The Slovenian, already victorious over Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April, won his second Monument of the season.

Nothing stops him.

Already winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April and the Tour de France in July, Tadej Pogacar added the Tour of Lombardy to his prestigious list this Saturday, at only 23 years old.

After a number of 35 kilometers, Pogacar beat Italian Fausto Masnada (Deceuninck Quick-Step) in the sprint, through the streets of Bergamo.

Julian Alaphilippe, the first Frenchman, finished 6th.

"This victory is special"

Launched in a solo effort 35km from the finish of this Tour of Lombardy, Tadej Pogacar finally edged Fausto Masnada in the sprint.

"It's just crazy to end the season like that!" Reacted the Slovenian after his victory, his second Monument of the season, in addition to the Tour du France.

“When I attacked I thought others would come with me but it was a tough race. I was aware of Masnada coming back on the descent, there were technical parts and he knows these roads very well. Fortunately, he was not the best sprinter. For me all victories are important but this one is special because I have dreamed of winning Lombardy for a long time. " 

Julian Alaphilippe salutes his team's performance

Big favorite of this Tour of Lombardy, Julian Alaphilippe got trapped in the end of the race. Long helped by his team, the world champion ended up paying for the presence of his teammate Fausto Masnada in the leading duo. "It went rather well because here we were, we were always represented at the front until the final. We really felt that the race was getting harder and harder so we got tougher. But after that it was a bit safe. who can, said Julian Alaphilippe at the microphone of Eurosport. We are in front with Joao Almeida and Fausto Masnada. The whole team did a great job. Fausto found himself in front but he did a great job before. We don't. Didn't really know what it was going to turn out to be. In the end we decided to play our card to the full and then he was second behind Pogacar. It's not bad already. "Julian Alaphilippe, double world champion, finally finished 6th, ahead of David Gaudu (7th) and Romain Bardet (8th).