Pogacar goes solo yet again for dominant Tre Valli Varesine victory
Tadej Pogačar won the 2025 Tre Valli Varesine with a superb solo attack which came with 22 kilometres to go. Albert Withen Philipsen (Lidl-Trek) won the sprint for second ahead of Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor).
The 2025 and 104th edition of the Tre Valli Varesine was 200 kilometres beginning in Busto Arsizio and finishing in Varese. A proper climbing classic awaited with over 3,300 metres of elevation across the race, which was back after the 2024 edition was abandoned due to heavy rainfall.
This time around, the sun was out in Northern Italy, and the race got under way with a breakaway of five riders. Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar), Mattia Bais (Polti VisitMalta), Andrew August (Ineos), Kevin Colleoni (Intermarché - Wanty) and Davide Ballerini (XDS - Astana) went up the road but they were never given much leeway.
80km from the line, Egan Bernal (Ineos) attempted an audacious attack and had acquired some daylight as he bridged up to Milesi at the head of the race. They built a 1:30 advantage over the peloton and that remained the case until Milesi was dropped with 46km to go.
Shortly after that, Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) made it to the front of the race with Bernal and also brought the dropped Milesi with him, but that group was eventually reeled in just under 30km out.
22km from the line, the expected happened as world champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) shot off alone with ease. He built up a gap of just under a minute over a strong chasing group behind, but there was nothing that they could do to stop the rampant Pogačar. He cruised to line, looking pretty effortless, whilst also putting on a real show for the fans roadside.
Behind him, the fight for the remaining podium places came down to a photo finish between Albert Withen Philipsen and Julian Alaphilippe. It was the young Dane, Philipsen, who edged out Alaphilippe to take second, with the Frenchman rounding out the podium in third.
