"We were a bit scared of him": Tadej Pogacar applauds Quinn Simmons' great ride in Lombardia

The name of Il Lombardia 2025 was Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian closed his season with one more victory to add to his incredible palmarès. However, many congratulations also went to Quinn Simmons. The American was undeniably one of the main protagonists of the "Classic of the Fallen Leaves" and was rewarded for his heroic efforts with a 4th place, just one position off the podium, after literally attacking in the first meter of the race.

The Lidl-Trek rider accelerated as soon as the official start of the monument was given, and did not stop for more than 200 kilometers to finish in fourth position, being the last rider to be overtaken by Tadej Pogacar himself.

Quinn Simmons' great performance did not go unnoticed by the Slovenian phenomenon either. Already on the road he congratulated him when he managed to catch his wheel on the Passo di Ganda, after his winning attack with 37 km to go. But then, in statements after the podium ceremony, he again referred to the American.

"I couldn't say anything to him and he couldn't say anything to me. But it was an impressive ride by Quinn, really a great stage. Already on the penultimate climb we were a bit scared of him, because he is a dangerous rider. But on the last climb everything went well," commented Tadej Pogacar about Quinn Simmons.

Quinn Simmons' 2025 season has been incredible. The Lidl-Trek rider started by winning a stage at the Volta a Catalunya, his sixth. Later, he went on to win the U.S. road cycling championship, following up with another WorldTour stage victory, this time at the Tour de Suisse.

In the Swiss race, Simmons won stage 3, in addition to getting into the breakaway on four out of six stages during that race and arriving 4th on another occasion. At the Tour de France, therefore, he arrived in top form, and kept up the level by coming close to victory on stage 6 (2nd) and entering further four breakaways during the Grande Boucle.

After the Tour, he returned to competition with a focus on the WorldTour classics in Canada. At the GP de Montréal he managed to get on the podium alongside Brandon McNulty and Tadej Pogacar, finishing 3rd. His fourth place finish at Il Lombardia, after creating the breakaway in the first meter of the race, confirms that, at 24 years old, Quinn Simmons is one of the most interesting riders in the peloton.