Pogacar & Evenepoel Dominate lombardy Descent, But Simmons’ Effort Steals the Show
BERGAMO, ITALY – Tadej Pogacar claimed victory at the Tour of Lombardy on Saturday, but the race’s Strava data reveals remarkable performances not only from the winner and runner-up Remco Evenepoel, but a stunning display of endurance from American rider Quinn Simmons. While Pogacar and Evenepoel battled for the win, pushing each other too notable speeds in the challenging descent, simmons’ relentless solo effort and staggering power numbers have left the cycling world in awe.
The Lombardy race saw both Pogacar and Evenepoel demonstrate exceptional descending prowess. Evenepoel clocked an average speed of 57.5 kilometers per hour over a nearly 11-kilometer downhill section following the Passo di Ganda, besting Pogacar by 10 seconds. This stretch is especially notable as it was the site of a serious crash for Evenepoel in 2020. A Strava segment created to compare the two riders, “Pog v Remco flat comparison” (6.56 kilometers),saw Pogacar finish 12 seconds ahead of Evenepoel.
Though, it was Simmons’ performance that truly captivated data enthusiasts. The Lidl-Trek rider launched a solo attack 82 kilometers from the finish, maintaining a leading position until being overtaken by the eventual winner and runner-up on the passo di Ganda. Despite fading slightly, he fought to finish fourth, demonstrating astonishing resilience.
Simmons’ Strava data revealed a Normalized Power (NP) of 390 watts sustained for almost six hours of racing over 238 kilometers. He averaged 4.93 watts per kilogram for the entire day, peaked at 1,253 watts, and maintained an average speed of 40.8 kilometers per hour while climbing 4,237 meters. Simmons jokingly referred to the effort as “Last training for Big Sugar,” alluding to his upcoming participation in the Big Sugar Gravel race. It remains to be seen if he will be fully recovered for Sunday’s event.
