«Look at that Enric Mas Nicolau It's fast. I knew it, but no one believed me. This victory was not so obvious. Not everything went according to plan so easily." As always, the words of Matxin they are not trivial. The technician of the UAE Emirates he knew about the danger Mas.
One might have thought that Mas would detach pogacar on the Civiglio. Tough climb, relatively long (4,3 kilometers) and given how things went in Emilia And the ease with which he closed on attackers at Tre Valli, thinking he had more than the Slovenian was not exactly a fantasy. However, Matxin also told us that Tadej was improving and that he was pedaling better every day.
But still according to
And in fact Mas, after having responded to the Slovenian's attack, relaunched, convinced that he could repeat what he had done at the Giro dell'Emilia, but This time Tadej was there. Half a pedal stroke and he closed on him. He stalked him. Then Mas tried again on the San Fermo, but by then his confidence had crumbled. Even though his outbursts were violent, it's the duel.
Reaching the finish line with a cannibal like Pogacar means certain "death." Even if, It must be admitted that the Spaniard played it very well. He sprinted with excellent timing, lines (the finish line curved slightly to the left), and power.
In the end, the Balearic rider can only enjoy the podium, be happy to have been the protagonist of a good duel and overall smile for a good end to the season. Second in the Vuelta, first in Emilia, second in Lombardia. But when you come across Remco and Tadej in your path... it's painful. Painful for everyone.
«I'm happy – said Mas emotional about Valverde's farewell "To have reached the podium of this monumental classic behind Pogačar. I'm happy for myself and for the team, which needed a good performance (the reference is to the points issue, ed.). I'm growing step by step."
«I tried to sprint and especially to break away from Pogacar on the last two climbs, but I didn't succeed. Today he was very strong and beat me. It means I'll have to wait before winning a monument classic, but I'll try again."
Pogacar on the rise
And then there's Pogacar. He arrives at the press conference just as Como is already shrouded in the shadow of the mountains. A cap with a visor on the forehead “à la Bartali” and the usual ease in speaking.
Returning to the topic of Mas's "certainties," we immediately asked him if, after the Emilia race, he expected Mas to be stronger than him on the climbs. If he feared him in any way. We were curious, because that was the crux of the race. Either Mas dropped him or it was a sprint... and that's how it went.
«I – says Pogacar – I knew I was getting better with each passing day. I had already had other feelings at Tre Valli Varesine. At Emilia, I still had the legs left in me from the long journey back from Australia. I knew it, and my team knew it. But we've always worked towards this goal. I have a very strong team, and we managed to achieve it."
This year's Lombardia route was much more Liège-style. And Pogacar has already won a Liège.
"This route," Pogacar said, "had more climbs, but shorter ones. Even though they were quite tough in the finale. I liked it and I'm happy that the track changes a little each time, even towards the end. This makes the race less predictable."
All in sprint
Short climbs, sprints, Mas trying, Tadej holding on... in the end, the epilogue was a sprint. A less predictable sprint than one might have expected, as mentioned.
«Never underestimate anyone in a sprint – continued Pogacar – I tried to give my best, I pushed hard and It was only when I was 50 meters away that I realized I would make it. Not before the sprint…
"Did my experience in Flanders help me in this sprint? It's hard to say, they were two different sprints. That day I was very nervous, but today I was calm. I only thought about cutting the white line on my head."
WT Pogacar house
Now his winter can begin. A winter in which Tadej said he will seek relaxation, but between various commitments, such as the GF Rigo (the Uran granfondo in Colombia) and the training camp in UAE It won't be so easy to catch in November.
«It was a long and beautiful season – concluded Pogacar – like the previous one. The only regret, if it is a regret, is the World Cup. Before the race I felt great, then on race day my legs didn't respond as I wanted.
"I've won a lot in these two seasons, I've had many great days. It's hard to say which was the best, because every race is different. Maybe today, why not? But I have to say that I felt really good at the Strade Bianche."
The WorldTour calendar also concluded with the Lombardy race, ending as it began, with Pogacar's victory. His the UAE The Tour in February includes the Strade Bianche, the Tirreno, three stages of the Tour, the Montreal GP, and the Lombardia in October… just to mention the successes in the top division.
“I like winning,” the Slovenian concluded, “as well as trying to always be in top condition, but it’s not easy.”
