"I gave my best on the last climb, but ten other riders were stronger" - Romain Bardet takes 11th place in Lombardia
Cycling
The picturesque Italian Lombardy region set the scene for the 117th edition of the legendary Il Lombardia, as Romain Bardet managed to cross the line in a strong 11th position after a great chase, finishing off his 2023 season in a good way on Saturday afternoon.
"As expected, the last Monument of the season was a super tough race. We can be proud of how we raced today, as everyone committed to our goal. Oscar was really strong when he opened up the race and the guys did a super good job around me all day long and I gave my best on the last climb. Eventually, ten other riders were just stronger today. So it’s positive to finish the season like this," Bardet said after the race.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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Pogacar conquers the 117th edition of @Il_Lombardia, as @romainbardet finishes his 2023 season in what looks like a strong 10th place. 👏🏻🇮🇹 #KeepChallenging #iLombardia
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