Pogacar obliterates Strava KOM on Lombardy’s toughest climb during recon, but gets irritated by annoying fans
CyclingSaturday, 11 October 2025 at 12:20
That Tadej Pogacar is once again the top favorite for the Tour of Lombardy goes without saying. The world champion is aiming for his fifth(!) consecutive victory in the final Monument of the season, and his blistering reconnaissance ride showed just how strong he is. But the training wasn’t all smooth sailing: several times, he had to speak out against intrusive fans.
Pogacar could become the first rider ever to win the Tour of Lombardy five times in a row; only Fausto Coppi has done it four times consecutively. With a fifth win, the Slovenian would also equal Coppi’s total record of five victories overall. And given Pogacar’s form at both the World and European Championships, it’s going to be extremely difficult for anyone to beat him.
Two days before the “Race of the Falling Leaves,” the defending champion completed his final course recon together with his team. The route is similar to that of two years ago, but it never hurts to take another look at the key sections. Pogacar rode over the Passo di Ganda, the last long climb of the day.
And he didn’t just take a casual look at the road, he decided to test his legs as well. And good grief, did he fly. On Strava, the KOM already belonged to the Slovenian himself, with a time of 22 minutes and 41 seconds, set during last year’s recon. This year? Just 21 minutes and 38 seconds, more than a minute faster!
Continue reading below the photo!
Pogacar gets irritated with fans during recon ride
His legs clearly aren’t the problem heading into Il Lombardia. The recon proved its value, but it didn’t all go smoothly. As the best and most recognizable rider in the world, Pogacar knows that fans along the route quickly realize when he’s out training, especially when he’s wearing the rainbow stripes. And while most people are polite, not everyone behaves that way.
Several videos show the Slovenian being repeatedly bothered by overzealous fans. Some amateurs tried to ride alongside him and wouldn’t back off. “Give us space, we’re working,” Pogacar can be heard saying. “Come to the Pogi Challenge on Sunday, then you can film all you want.” He also reminded another rider of basic cycling etiquette: “Where are you riding? Keep right!” he shouted to a slow cyclist blocking the middle of the road.
Read also
IDL-productions
LIVE Tour of Lombardy 2025 | With a historic record in sight, Pogacar looks almost unstoppable
Preview Paris-Tours 2025 | LaB takes center stage as Démare bids farewell on the infamous gravel roads
Preview World Gravel Championship 2025 - men | Pidcock, strong Belgians and young, versatile Dutchmen
Preview Gran Piemonte 2025 | UAE show without Pogacar? Plenty of contenders lining up in the Italian hill classic
"Luckily I’m changing teams, so it’s their problem": Evenepoel puts Red Bull to work in mission "follow Pogacar"
Good old Thomas Voeckler was the man who frustrated Evenepoel, says Seixas: "I was a bit scared"
Latest Cycling News
Philipsen ends his season with 7 wins, Van der Poel with 6, as there will be no big finale in Paris-Tours
🎥 Beautiful farewell for Majka in Lombardy: honor guard for the Pole and for Serry, Meintjes, Puccio, and Petilli
Pogacar’s heartfelt farewell to "big brother and mentor" Majka: "He helped me to become what I've become"
LIVE Tour of Lombardy 2025 | With a historic record in sight, Pogacar looks almost unstoppable
Boogerd doesn’t believe much in a Pogacar–Del Toro deal and eagerly awaits Mathieu van der Poel's return
Popular Cycling News
Ex-rider says van der Poel has cracked the Pogacar code: "Tadej will come to Sanremo, Flanders and Roubaix with new moves"
From neighbor to training partner to close friend: F1 driver Carlos Sainz praises Pogacar
LIVE Tour of Lombardy 2025 | With a historic record in sight, Pogacar looks almost unstoppable
Will Tadej Pogacar give away a monument victory to the incredible Isaac Del Toro in Lombardy?
Tom Pidcock has wild plans for Lombardy and the World Championship Gravel (but seriously, check out this video!)
Latest Comments
- Cracked the code lol. If it was that easy to 'crack the code' jonny Vegas would be charging up the Kwaremont giving Pog a dose of his medicine. Evenepoel can't match pog on a climb and neither can mvdp. Anything with a half difficult climb and Pog smashes the field. Even on flat(ish)parcours like Roubaix it came down to a mistake and crash by pog to definitively crown mvdp. MSR is the only one that Pog probably won't win.kevpt10-10-2025
- We've seen this movie before. I think Pogacar is doping.DeadBlow10-10-2025
- 👍Bea08-10-2025
- 👌🏻Bea08-10-2025
- What the data doesn't show is how much of an effect drafting had for evenepoel. Pogacar went with del toro at 100km whilst Evenepoel was still in the bunch. Despite the bike changes he still had a lot of assistance getting back to the bunch. Pogacar then rode 60km solo whilst evenepoel rode with Healy/Skjelmose until going solo in thd last 10-15km. Thats ~20% less power / energy requirements for 45-50km. Apples and oranges...kevpt30-09-2025
- 👏👏Bea24-09-2025
- Agreed! As we all know now, Juan Ayuso will be on another team. But it was sweet to see him win the stages at La Vuelta. I do love the drama of cycling admittedly but its clear to see the talent of winners of stages in a Grand Tourryhw2814fq921-09-2025
- Pogacar has no competition he has won everything, I cant imagine even being him in that position!! Crazy. I am sure he has some back up plan for how he wants to spend his retirement years at age 30 onward. Does he like beer? Plenty of innovation in brewing. And you don't have to be super social. Chapeau/Cheers whatever you like Tadej you will do.ryhw2814fq921-09-2025
- Plus its confirmed that the Philadelphia Cycling Classic up the Manayunk Wall is back for 2026! hooray for thatryhw2814fq918-09-2025
- This is a dumb question but still why doesn't the UCI consider a grand tour in the USA in the future. We have the desolate/scary back roads in Pennsylvania and Virginia, just like in France with loads of rural land and hills. Plus the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the Cascade/Olympic Mountains in Washington State. I'm sure it'll never happen but honestly people in PA/NJ/NY/VT/NH would love it. We are already sports fans, what is another sport to learn. I am forever optimistic about cycling in the US.ryhw2814fq918-09-2025
Loading
