Egan Bernal's solo victory in Gran Piemonte catapulted him into contention to win Saturday's Il Lombardia. Winning Lombardia, one of the five major Sportif classics, is a crowning achievement in most riders' careers. But Bernal (Team Ineos) won the Tour de France at just 22 years old and is considered one of the greatest talents of all time. Even Lombardy. Even winning at the Gran Piedmont is special for personal reasons. It's great to win here." I raced a lot in Italy during my two years with Androni Giocattoli, but I could never win in Italy," Bernal said happily. It is even more emotional to win here in Oropa, near where I used to live, on the same track where Marco Pantani won. My friends and fan club members are here, so it feels as if I won my own home race," he said. Bernal was only two years old when Marco Pantani won the 1999 Giro d'Italia in Oropa by himself. A few days later, Pantani was banned from the Corsa Rosa for having high hematocrit levels in his blood, but the victory is still remembered as a huge sporting "impresa" in Italy. Bernal said. Bernal also noted the "Impreza" part, saying. Like Pantani, he too won alone on the cobblestone streets beneath the giant stone sanctuary.

"I've seen the video of Pantani winning in Oropa," an Italian journalist said, handing him his cell phone and engaging in a brief conversation with Pantani's mother, Tonina. 'When we passed the village where Pantani lost his chain, I remembered it and I thought about it during the climb. I think everyone should watch that video and understand what he did that day."

Bernal has nothing to prove in Lombardy. His decision to miss the end-of-season race program in Italy and the World Championships in Yorkshire was to lay the groundwork for more success in 2020 following his Tour de France victory. Any result is a morale-boosting bonus. He will lead Team Ineos on Saturday, but the pressure will be on the other riders to win. Whatever the result," he said, "I want to be satisfied with how I'm doing and how I'm preparing for next season. It's a monument and a big race, but I'm not a classic rider, so it doesn't mean I have to win. A lot of big-name riders are peaking and preparing for Lombardia. I don't have that. Of course I want a good result, but I am happy to have won here. I am sure I spent a lot of energy, but it was worth it if I could celebrate the victory with so many Italian friends. It was worth it to celebrate the victory with so many Italian friends. It's a long, hard race, over 240 kilometers, so it's important to be smart in the early stages and have good endurance. You never know what will happen in a race, but anyway I am happy to finish the season."