Tadej Pogačar celebrates after winning a third successive Il Lombardia title ©La Presse

Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia celebrated a "dream come true", as he won the one-day Il Lombardia cycling race for the third year in a row.

The UAE Team Emirates rider produced a solo attack over the Passo di Ganda climb, 30 kilometres from the end of the 238km route from Como to Bergamo.

Pogačar’s latest victory, to add to his wins in 2021 and 2022, puts him two behind record winner of this race Fausto Coppi of Italy, who has been victorious five times.

In second place was Italian Andrea Bagioli of Soudal Quick-Step, who finished 51 seconds adrift of Pogačar.

The podium was completed by fellow Slovenian Primož Roglič, with the Team Jumbo-Visma rider finishing on the same time after being outsprinted by Bagioli.

The duo led a group of six who finished on the same time, with fourth going to Russian rider Aleksandr Vlasov of Bora-Hansgrohe, and fifth to Britain’s Simon Yates riding for Team Jayco-AlUla.

Speaking after his win Pogačar said: "To win for the third time in my third participation and for the second time here in Bergamo, it’s a dream come true. 

"I wanted to win solo but I thought Alexander Vlasov would stay with me for longer because he was one of the strongest today. 

"In the moment I got a little gap, I did the descent much better than two years ago. 

"I got cramps on my right leg and I’ve thought I was done but I pushed through. It’s amazing."