Tadej Pogacar equals Coppi with record fifth Il Lombardia victory

Tadej Pogačar has matched Fausto Coppi in holding the record for the most victories at the race of the falling leaves, with 5 editions each.

After claiming his fifth victory on Saturday, Pogačar achieved something that the Italian great didn’t: winning five consecutive editions. Coppi won his first four in a row from 1946-1949 before a five-year gap until he claimed his last in 1954. Meanwhile, Pogačar sealed five in a row from 2021 to 2025, becoming the first rider in history to win five consecutive editions of any monument.

In 2021 and 2022, the Slovenian defeated Fausto Masnada and Enric Mas in a two-up sprint to the line, before riding to victory in 2023 with a 31km solo effort. 

Since then, the Slovenian has produced an abundance of even longer-range solo efforts in the biggest races, including last year's edition, which saw a 48.4km solo expedition to Como, resulting in a 3:16 advantage at the finish line over runner-up Remco Evenepoel.

The 2025 edition, which saw Pogačar match Coppi on five victories, saw the World Champion make his race-winning move on the Passo di Ganda, embarking on a 34km solo effort and ending 1:48 ahead of Evenepoel in 2nd.

The longest-standing record of them all belongs to Giovanni Gerbi, the winner of the inaugural edition back in 1905. Gerbi, nicknamed the “red devil”, was 20 years and 161 days when he claimed victory in Lombardy, and remains the youngest winner of the race 120 years later.

On the other end of the scale, Gaetano Belloni has been the oldest winner for almost a century, when he won the 1928 edition at the age of 36 years and 69 days old. Three riders have won Il Lombardia at the age of 35, including Sean Kelly in 1991, Jakob Fuglsang in 2020 and the record holder for most wins, Fausto Coppi, claiming his 5th title in 1954.

Davide Rebellin started 16 editions of Il Lombardia, which is the 2nd most behind Gianni Faresin, who started 17 times. However, Rebellin completed all 16 editions he started, with the first in 1992, and his last in 2016, which made him stand alone as the rider who has the most finishes in Il Lombardia history.

However, 2019 winner Bauke Mollema joined Rebellin on 16 finishes after finishing 54th in the 2025 edition, meaning that the duo now stand together for the most finishes in Il Lombardia history,

Unsurprisingly, Italy dominate the standings when it comes to most victories at Il Lombardia, with 69 successes.

However, it isn't all rosy for the host nation, with the nation embarking on its joint-longest streak without a winner, 7 editions matching a barren spell from 1988-1994, with Vincenzo Nibali's triumph in 2017 the nation's last.

Another winless edition in 2025 means that Italy are in their leanest period of success at Il Lombardia in the race's history 

Belgium and France are tied in 2nd with 12 wins, with their most recent coming in 2010 with Philippe Gilbert and 2018 with Thibaut Pinot, respectively.

There have been five editions won by a Swiss rider, with Oliver Zaugg's surprise victory in 2010 the most recent; meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar drew Slovenia level with Switzerland after his fifth victory in 2025.