"I was in a world of pain" - Michael Storer stuns to join Pogacar and Evenepoel at Lombardia podium

Il Lombardia was always expected to be a race ruled by UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Tadej Pogacar, with Remco Evenepoel as the only realistic rival. However few would've expected for the man who would come the closest to the duo would be Michael Storer, who thrived in the final monument of the season to make history for Tudor Pro Cycling Team.

The Swiss team began the race with Storer and Julian Alaphilippe as two options for a strong result, and both showed their best legs on the day. Naturally, the climber-oriented race suited the Australian better, who on the final climb was one of the only riders still standing in the main group when Tadej Pogacar launched his attack on the Passo di Ganda.

"I was feeling really good today and was quite sure that a top-10 was totally realistic. I was trying to hang on as best I could; the group got smaller and smaller, and ultimately, I was able to grab a podium spot here," Storer said in a post-race interview as shared by the team. He managed to finish ahead of Quinn Simmons and Isaac del Toro who was dropped at the summit of the final long climb, impressing and finishing off his best season to date with what is potentially the most impressive result of his career as well. "It’s a dream come true to podium at Il Lombardia and at a Monument!"

Fighting for second place was quite possible, but he was victim of a brutal downhill attack from Remco Evenepoel, but the podium didn't escape him. "For a long time, I didn’t think that this was something I would be able to do. Usually, I’m a bit more conservative in the descents, but today I went all in. It was a sprint out of every corner to stay on Remco’s wheel, and at some point, unfortunately, I just didn’t have the legs to close the gaps anymore. On that last climb, I was in a world of pain, but the crowds were amazing," he concluded.