Il Lombardia Race Preview: The times are shorter, the leaves are falling and 2024 biking season is nearly over. However there’s one ‘huge bash’ left – Il Lombardia. The fifth and last Monument Traditional of the season, a race with an extended historical past and lots of epic editions. The ‘Race of the Falling (Useless) Leaves’ has been gained by Tadej Pogačar for the previous three years. The Slovenian will probably be searching for fourth consecutive victory on Saturday, in his phenomenal season, however don’t write off the competitors, it could possibly be a fierce battle.
*** You possibly can see the ‘PEZ Lombardia’24 Preview with Chris Horner video’ HERE. ***
Will it’s 4 in a row for Tadej Pogačar?
Il Lombardia Historical past
Il Lombardia is the final Monument of the season, so perhaps all the massive stars usually are not on the start-line, however the north Italian Traditional is one race that everybody desires to win. The Classica delle foglie morte (“the Traditional of the falling (lifeless) leaves”) has lots of romance because it closes biking yr. Here’s a little bit of historical past.
Giovanni Gerbi – The primary winner of Il Lombardia in 1905
The ‘actual Lombardia’ was born in 1905. Within the early years the race was nonetheless referred to as ‘Milan-Milan’, however from 1907 onwards, it was known as the Giro di Lombardia, or Il Lombardia. Of the 5 Monuments, solely Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1892) and Paris-Roubaix (1896) are older, however the race predates Milano-Sanremo (1907) and the Ronde van Vlaanderen (1913). Of all of the 5 Monuments, Il Lombardia will need to have the perfect ambiance. A whole lot of that is as a result of time of yr, the late summer time interval, and that the season is approaching its finish and it’s time suppose again with nostalgia on all the pieces that occurred in the course of the previous biking yr. In Italy the race can also be referred to as ‘La corsa delle foglie morte’, or ‘the race of the lifeless leaves’, in the remainder of the world it has been translated to ‘the race of the falling leaves’. The Tour of Lombardy is the final Monument of the street season, a final likelihood saloon for any under-achieving group chief. Lombardia was once the primary huge race to see the rainbow jersey. A ‘no-body’ (nearly) by no means wins Lombardia. The celebs of the previous are all names it is best to have heard of: Gustave Garrigou (1907), François Faber (1908), Henri Pélissier (1911, 1913 and 1920) and Philippe Thys (1917) within the years earlier than and in the course of the first world struggle. Then after the primary struggle after which throughout and after the second world struggle, it was the Italian champions Costante Girardengo (1919, 1921 and 1922), Alfredo Binda (1925, 1926, 1927 and 1931), Gino Bartali (1936, 1939 and 1940) and file holder Fausto Coppi (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1954) who dominated the roads of Lombardy.
The legend and five-time Lombardia winner – Fausto Coppi
Then there was different biking greats: Rik Van Looy (1959), Felice Gimondi (1966 and 1973), Roger De Vlaeminck (1974 and 1976), Francesco Moser (1975 and 1978), Bernard Hinault (1979 and 1984), Sean Kelly (1983, 1985 and 1991) and Tony Rominger (1989 and 1992). Within the two-thousands, it was Michele Bartoli (2002 and 2003), Paolo Bettini (2005 and 2006), Damiano Cunego (2004, 2007 and 2008), Philippe Gilbert (2009 and 2010), Joaquim Rodríguez (2012 and 2013) and Vincenzo Nibali (2015 and 2017), who all took a number of victories. Italy has had 69 winners, no different nation even comes shut. Belgium is second in success record with France, with twelve wins. Thys, Van Looy, Emile Daems, Herman Vanspringel, Jean-Pierre Monseré, Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Fons De Wolf and Gilbert had been the Belgians and Gustave Garrigou, Henri Pélissier, Louison Bobet, André Darrigade, Bernard Hinault, Charly Mottet, Gilles Delion, Laurent Jalabert and Thibaut Pinot. Roger De Vlaeminck gained the Tour of Lombardy twice, at a time when Eddy Merckx was successful when and the place he needed. There have been many different nice champions at that very same time: Joop Zoetemelk, Luis Ocaña, Felice Gimondi, Bernard Thévenet, Francesco Moser and Jan Raas, however ‘The Gypsy of Eeklo’ had a full palmarès. Milan-Sanremo 3 times, Paris-Roubaix 4 instances, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tirreno-Adriatico seven instances and 22 phases within the Giro d’Italia… the record goes on.
Lombardia 1974 – Roger De Vlaeminck getting the higher of Eddy Merckx
De Vlaeminck’s different nickname is Mr. Paris-Roubaix, and he holds the file with 4 victories (with Tom Boonen, however he doesn’t like to say it), however the Tour of Lombardy, which he gained in 1974 and 1976, additionally has a particular place in his coronary heart. “That’s the most lovely and hardest race on this planet. However man, the Tour of Lombardy… That’s the actual race,” the Belgian stated in an interview with De Standaard in 2017. “In my time, one-day cyclists needed to compete towards climbers. I’ve ridden there towards Thevenet, Poulidor, Zoetemelk, Panizza… But additionally towards high riders from the classics. If you happen to might say in Italy that you’ve got Milan-San Remo and Lombardy in your record of achievements, you might be within the gallery of the perfect. It’s not with out cause that Lombardy is within the group of 5 monuments. You possibly can’t do something in Lombardy if you happen to don’t like climbing. However if you happen to can and wish to do this, Lombardy is admittedly the perfect,” the two-time winner stated of Il Lombardia.
Vincenzo Nibali – Winner in 2017
The Final 10 Winners of Il Lombardia:
2023: Tadej Pogačar
2022: Tadej Pogačar
2021: Tadej Pogačar
2020: Jakob Fuglsang
2019: Bauke Mollema
2018: Thibaut Pinot
2017: Vincenzo Nibali
2016: Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio
2015: Vincenzo Nibali
2014: Daniel Martin.
Three time Lombardia winner – Gino Bartali
The 2023 Il Lombardia
Tadej Pogačar dropped the highest males within the main group to solo to victory in Bergamo. His third in a row Il Lombardia and his fifth monument. The opposite stars couldn’t pull the Slovenian champion again even when he had cramp within the final kilometres. Andrea Bagioli was second and Primož Roglič third at 51 seconds.
# You possibly can learn the total ‘PEZ Il Lombardia 2023 Race Report’ HERE. #
2023 Il Lombardia Outcome:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Crew Emirates in 5:55:33
2. Andrea Bagioli (Ita) Soudal Fast-Step at 0:51
3. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe
5. Simon Yates (GB) Jayco AlUla
6. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Crew Emirates
7. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers
8. Richard Carapaz (Eu) EF Schooling-EasyPost in 1:05
9. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step in 1:25
10. Andreas Kron (Den) Lotto Dstny.
Celebrity Climbers Conflict In The 12 months’s Remaining Monument | Il Lombardia 2023 Highlights by GCN Racing:
The 2024 Route
Lately, Il Lombardia has alternated between Como and Bergamo for the end. This yr, the end is once more in Como and Bergamo will host the beginning. Bergamo is likely one of the oldest cities in Lombardy and has Etruscan, Celtic and Roman influences.
Il Lombardia’24 map
Bergamo is an actual biking metropolis and the Giro d’Italia has visited many instances. It’s also the birthplace of quite a few well-known Italian cyclists, together with Claudio Corti, Eddy Mazzoleni, Fausto Masnada and Lorenzo Rota, the final two are nonetheless within the peloton in the intervening time. Masnada got here near successful the Tour of Lombardy three years in the past, however was crushed within the dash by Tadej Pogačar. From Bergamo, the riders head east after which northwest. The race then hits the Forcellino di Bianzano (6.3km at 5.1%), the Ganda (9.4km at 7%), Colle di Berbenno (4.5km at 6.2%) and the climb to Valpiana (10.4km at 6.1%). These climbs ought to see off the riders who left their climbing legs at residence, however the race will most likely not begin but.
Il Lombardia’24 profile
The finale begins about 90 kilometres from the end, with the Madonna del Ghisallo (8.7km at 5.3%). This yr it’s not climbed from Bellagio, the traditional facet, however from Asso. In 2022, the race then went straight to the San Fermo della Battaglia, however this yr there’s the Colma di Sormano (12.8km at 6.7%) first. That is the facet that the riders normally descend after climbing the shorter, however very steep Muro di Sormano. This climb was final included within the route in 2020, the place Remco Evenepoel crashed over a bridge and broke his pelvis and had months off the bike to get well.
Il Lombardia’24 finale profile
The summit of the Colma di Sormano is 42 kilometres from the end. A lot of the climbing is over because the Civiglio will not be on the route this yr as a result of roadworks. After the Sormano there’s flat part earlier than San Fermo della Battaglia (2.9km at 6.6%). As soon as over that climb, there’s simply over 5 kilometres to the end line in Como.
The Lombardia Climbs:
- Forcellino di Bianzano (6.3km at 5.1%) – Summit after 29.9 kilometres
- Passo Ganda (9.4km at 7%) – Summit after 49.8 kilometres
- Colle di Berbenno (4.5km at 6.2%) – Summit after 83.9 kilometres
- Valpiana (10.4km at 6.1%) – Summit after 103.8 kilometres
- Madonna del Ghisallo (8.7km at 5.3%) – Summit after 173.7 kilometres
- Colma di Sormano (12.8km at 6.7%) – Summit after 210 kilometres
- San Fermo della Battaglia (2.9km at 6.6%) – Summit after 246.8 kilometres
The Sormano comes 42km for the end
Saturday October 12, Bergamo – Como (252km)
Begin: 10.35am
End: round 5pm.
When will Pogačar assault this yr?
The Race Favourites
Il Lombardia is the race the place the highest riders of the season battle for the final time… if they’re nonetheless recent sufficient. This yr the beginning record of a top quality, however will the Tadej Pogačar that we now have seen just lately assault early and end solo in Como on Saturday? The World champion has had an unbelievable season and is holding his sturdy kind. The chief of UAE Crew Emirates began with a win in Strade Bianche and adopted that with 4 stage wins and the general within the Tour of Catalonia. Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Giro d’Italia, together with 6 stage wins, Tour de France, additionally with 6 stage wins, GP de Montréal, the World street championship and the Giro dell’Emilia final week. That’s 24 victories. Most groups dream of that quantity of wins. Pogacar will need No.25 on Saturday and his fourth Lombardia in a row and particularly within the rainbow jersey. For the reason that yr 2000, solely Paolo Bettini has gained Lombardia as World champion, that was in 2006. Pogačar has a robust group behind him: Adam Yates, Pavel Sivakov and Marc Hirschi will probably be there to assist him when the motion will get going, however Yates and Hirschi might win if one thing goes incorrect for the Slovenian. Yates has completed within the top-10 in his final three participations and third in 2021. Hirschi has by no means proven a lot in Lombardy, however he’s shifting group on the finish of the yr and has been successful one race after one other just lately.
Will this be the peloton’s view of Pogačar on Saturday?
So can anybody beat Tadej Pogacar? His countryman, Primoz Roglič had aimed on the final huge race of the season, however since he gained the Vuelta a España he has not been driving nicely and didn’t end the Giro dell’Emilia and Coppa Bernocchi final week. This was an indication to his current kind and Roglič together with his Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe group have determined to finish his season early and never begin Il Lombardia. “An extended season is coming to an finish. Primož and the efficiency group have determined to attract a line underneath an thrilling biking yr.” The group will now depend upon Aleksandr Vlasov. He was 4th in Lombardy final yr and is all the time a robust contender.
Aleksandr Vlasov ought to be Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s major man
Remco Evenepoel has additionally had an beautiful season: Two Olympic golds, a World championship and on the Tour podium place within the Tour de France, however he’s beginning to look drained and Saturday may simply be a few weeks too late. The Belgian desires to get revenge on Lombardia for his crash 4 years in the past that took him out of the race and the peloton for months. The one drawback for the Belgian ‘Marvel Boy’ is his kind. Evenepoel stated earlier than the beginning of the Coppa Bernocchi that ‘the batteries are slowly beginning to run out’ and his group supervisor Klaas Lodewyck didn’t make any excuses: “He’s removed from high. We will see that too. He’s at his restrict. Not when he’s simply biking, at a gradual tempo. Nicely, in full effort. It’s now vital to get well nicely and see what can come of it within the coming days,” Lodewyck instructed Het Laatste Nieuws.
Has the season been too lengthy for Remco Evenepoel?
What of the opposite rider who may stand an opportunity? Tom Pidcock needed to maintain his Olympic mountain bike title, which he succeeded in doing and he was the perfect behind Pogačar within the Giro dell’Emilia. The INEOS Grenadiers rider ought to have faith for Saturday, however he’s up towards the Slovenian World champion and must use his techniques if he desires to win.
Tom Pidcock might need to assault early
Groupama-FDJ’s David Gaudu got here out of disappointing Tour de France with some good kind, though it he has gone off the boil within the final weeks. Gaudu might throw himself into the race and make a robust effort for the final time in 2024. The group additionally has younger rider, Romain Grégoire. It’s an extended and hard race, perhaps an excessive amount of for the Frenchman, however don’t ignore him.
David Gaudu – Possibly?
Aside from Remco Evenepoel, Belgium additionally has Lennert Van Eetvelt. The younger Lotto Dstny climber hasn’t raced since he deserted the Vuelta a España, so he’s an unknown entity on Saturday. Van Eetvelt has been coaching for Lombardia and will probably be brisker than the others. Might this be to his benefit?
Lennert Van Eetvelt is one other attainable
Enric Mas normally has a great finish of season after his predictable Vuelta. The Movistar rider was second to Pogačar two years in the past and solely misplaced out on the end to a greater sprinter. The Spaniard surprisingly attacked within the finally cancelled Tre Valli Varesine in the course of the week, so he has the shape and the ‘fireplace within the stomach’. However there’s all the time a query, is Mas a winner? He clearly is usually a challenger to the World champion, however can he take the victory?
Can Enric Mas step as much as the win
One other rider who’s all the time a contender is Michael Woods. The Canadian has been fifth and ninth within the last Monument and was 4th within the Giro dell’Emilia final Saturday. Wilco Kelderman is a part of a robust Visma | Lease a Bike group together with Matteo Jorgenson, Attila Valter, Tiesj Benoot and Bart Lemmen.
Michael Woods one other man to look at
Of the opposite outsiders there’s additionally Bauke Mollema, who gained Il Lombardia 5 years in the past. The Lidl-Trek Dutchman was very strongly on the World championship in Zurich. His teammate Toms Skujiņš was 4th within the World Championship and was very near a medal.
Bauke Mollema – He’s gained right here earlier than
Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R), Neilson Powless (EF Schooling-EasyPost), Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny), Florian Lipowitz (Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Michael Storer (Tudor) and Giro dell’Emilia revelation Davide Piganzoli (Polti-Kometa), are all sturdy candidates for a high end.
Aurélien Paret-Peintre – Exterior guess
Who else to have a look at? Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla), Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), Antonio Tiberi and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R) and the retiring Domenico Pozzovivo (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè).
The final huge race for Domenico Pozzovivo
The TOP Favourites:
No.1: Tadej Pogačar
Potential: Tom Pidcock and Remco Evenepoel
Possibly: Aleksandr Vlasov, Enric Mas and Michael Woods
Exterior Likelihood: Matteo Jorgenson, Toms Skujiņš and Simon Yates.
* The beginning record may change between now and Saturday.
Il Lombardia 2024 | We’re nearly right here
*** Keep PEZ for the ‘Lombardia Race Report’ on Saturday and all of the information in EUROTRASH Monday. ***
# Because of WielerFlits and CyclingFlash for inspiration and information. #
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