Will Pogacar match Coppi? - Il Lombardia records

Fausto Coppi currently holds the record for the most victories at the race of the falling leaves with 5. Tadej Pogačar is currently tied in 2nd with Alfredo Binda on 4 victories, and could put himself level at the top of the record books alongside Coppi.

If Pogačar can claim a fifth win on Sunday, drawing level with Fausto Coppi, who will have achieved something that the Italian didn’t, by 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

For Pogačar, each passing edition of Il Lombardia seems to produce a more emphatic performance than the last. 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, which resulted in a 3:16 advantage at the finish line over runner-up Remco Evenepoel.

After two more utterly dominant performances and the World and European Championships over the last fortnight, there's a high chance that Pogačar could seal a record-equally fifth Il Lombardia victory with his biggest solo yet at the race of the falling leaves.

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, making him the rider who has 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 would mean 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 could single-handedly draw Slovenia level if he can claim his fifth victory in a row.