New duel between Pogacar and Evenepoel in Lombardy: "We're not the big favorites though"

This Saturday, during the Tour of Lombardy, we will get another duel between Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. The two world-class riders avoided each other throughout the spring, before facing off for the first time this year in the Tour de France. Since then, they also met in the World Championships, the Giro dell'Emilia and the canceled Tre Valli Varesine. The final event of the year for both men is Il Lombardia, where Pogacar and Evenepoel will each have a fairly strong team supporting them.

UAE Team Emirates, the team of the newly crowned world champion Pogacar, announced their seven-man lineup for Saturday's start in Bergamo on Wednesday morning. Alongside the Slovenian team leader, they are counting on fall phenomenon Marc Hirschi, Adam Yates, Pavel Sivakov, Rafal Majka, Jan Christen and Finn Fisher Black. It’s fair to say we’re seeing a UAE armada.

This will be the third race in which Pogacar showcases his rainbow jersey. "The first race in the rainbow colors was something special," says the 26-year-old world champion, who already won his first race in his new jersey. "Giro Dell’Emilia was always a race that got away from me but I was delighted to be able to take the win there finally last weekend. The shape is still very good and I want to give it one last push now for Lombardia." The Slovenian can already look back on an exceptional 2024. "t’s been the perfect season for us this year. The team worked really hard and things really clicked for us. I’ll definitely look back on this year as a really special time. But it’s not over yet and we want to finish it off well and with a strong result in my last race of the season in Lombardia."

Selection UAE Team Emirates 2024 Tour of Lombardy

Jan Christen

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Soudal Quick-Step surrounds Evenepoel with strong support in Lombardy, aiming to "show Wolfpack spirit"

On Wednesday afternoon, the Belgian team Soudal Quick-Step also announced its lineup for Il Lombardia, with Evenepoel – of course – as the designated leader. The newly crowned Olympic time trial champion will be joined by four compatriots and two local riders. The team consists of Evenepoel, Pieter Serry, Ilan van Wilder, Mauri Vansevenant, William Junior Lecerf, Mattia Cattaneo and Fausto Masnada.

"It goes without saying that on Saturday we’ll take on one of the toughest races of the season," sports director Davide Bramati previewed on the team's website. "The eight climbs on the course will gradually whittle down the peloton, and the presence of Sormano – the longest ascent of the day – inside the last 60 kilometers is sure to light up the race. We aren’t starting as the main favourites, but we are determined to do a good race, show the Wolfpack spirit and score a solid result as we bring down the curtain over our European season."

Selection Soudal Quick-Step 2024 Tour of Lombardy

Remco Evenepoel