BERGAMO, ITALY - OCTOBER 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate crop) Michael Storer of Australia and Team Tudor Pro Cycling crosses the finish line as third place winner during the 119th Il Lombardia 2025 a 241km one day race from Como to Bergamo on October 11, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Michael Storer achieved a significant milestone in his cycling career by securing third place at Il Lombardia on March 2, 2024. This result marks Storer’s first podium finish in a Monument race, where he finished behind Tadej Pogacar from UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Remco Evenepoel of Soudal-QuickStep. Racing for Tudor Pro Cycling, a team managed by former professional cyclist Fabian Cancellara, Storer expressed immense gratitude for the achievement.
Storer encapsulated the excitement of the moment, stating, “I’m super grateful for everything. The team will be super happy. I’m sure my phone will be exploded now.” Cancellara’s involvement was particularly motivating for the team, as he participated in reconnaissance rides leading up to the race, despite not competing himself.
The decisive action unfolded on the slopes of the Passo di Ganda, where a select group of riders, including Storer, Pogacar, Evenepoel, and their teammates, formed during the race. Pogacar initiated a fierce attack halfway up the climb, establishing a lead of nearly a minute as Storer and the others struggled to respond, settling into a chase group.
Evenepoel displayed tenacity, eventually distancing himself from his rivals, while Storer clung on amid the intense competition. Storer later explained the challenge of keeping pace with Evenepoel on the descents, stating, “The problem was that Remco is super aero, and just sprinting out of the corners.” This pursuit took a toll on Storer, leading to fatigue as he navigated the hairpin turns.
As the race progressed, Storer found himself trailing Evenepoel and had to push through the final ascent of the Colle Aperto. “I was just in a world of pain on that last climb. I haven’t gone that deep many times in my life before,” he noted, emphasizing the difficulty of the terrain. Despite finishing 3:14 behind Pogacar, he considered the outcome a pleasant surprise.
Earlier in the season, Storer showcased his talent by winning a stage and finishing fifth overall at Paris-Nice, claiming both a stage victory and the overall title at the Tour of the Alps, and earning a top-ten finish at the Giro d’Italia. He also celebrated a stage podium at the Tour de France and recently triumphed in the Memorial Marco Pantani.
Reflecting on his season, Storer remarked, “It’s the highlight I wasn’t expecting to come at the very end. I feel like there have been a lot of highlights this year. As I said before, I can be proud of my season, proud of today, and proud of my team.” This latest achievement reinforces Storer’s status as a rising star in professional cycling.
