Michael Storer achieved the first podium of his career in a Monument Classic, crossing the finish line of the Giro di Lombardia in third place behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep).

The Australian rider from the Tudor Pro Cycling Team, a team owned by former champion Fabian Cancellara, described this result as the most memorable moment of his season:

"I'm incredibly grateful for everything. The team will be incredibly happy. Fabian did the reconnaissance with us and was incredibly motivated for this race, even though he wasn't racing."

Storer was a key figure in the decisive moment of the race, part of the select group that formed on the first ramps of the final climb, the Passo di Ganda, together with Pogačar, his teammates Vine and Del Toro, Evenepoel and Seixas.

Pogačar's devastating attack halfway up the climb finally split the peloton, with the Slovenian quickly building up nearly a minute's lead. Behind, Evenepoel pulled away from the other pursuers, while Storer managed to hold on, clinging to his wheels.

The Australian explained that he lost contact with Evenepoel mainly because of the effort required to follow him on the downhill hairpins: "The problem was that Remco is super aerodynamic and would sprint out of every corner. I had to sprint every time to stay on his wheel, and that burned my legs."

Despite difficulties on the final climb of the Colle Aperto, Storer managed to hold onto third place, crossing the finish line in Bergamo 3:14 behind Pogačar. This result caps an already successful season, with victories in the Giro delle Alpi, placings in the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, and a recent triumph at the Marco Pantani Memorial.

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