Pogacar sets Cipressa record in stunning fightback
Everyone expected Tadej Pogacar to make his move on the Cipressa, but after crashing in the run-in to the climb, that scenario suddenly looked unlikely. Instead, the Slovenian delivered something even more remarkable.
Pogačar was quickly back on his bike but had work to do. The pace was high and the peloton was already stretched heading towards the climb. Earlier in the race, UAE Team Emirates-XRG had lost Jan Christen, leaving them a rider down for the finale.
He rejoined at the back just as the road tilted upwards on the Cipressa. From there, Pogačar moved up decisively, using the wheel of Brandon McNulty to reach the front within a few kilometres.
After a pull from Isaac Del Toro, the expected acceleration followed. Pogačar attacked with around 2.5 kilometres to the top. Tom Pidcock and Van der Poel were the only riders able to go with him, holding his wheel as the pace lifted again near the summit.
Despite the earlier crash and the effort to chase back, Pogačar set the fastest ever time on the Cipressa at 8 minutes 48 seconds. It was seven seconds quicker than Van der Poel, who had started the climb further forward and 11 seconds faster than last year's time.
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