Il Lombardia LIVE – Podium Cafe

Will the so-called straightforward race profile make a distinction?

First, let’s take a look at the profile:

That’s 4735 meters of climbing for you bub so “straightforward” is extra of a comparative time period right here. And undoubtedly it’s simpler that standard with the Ghisallo and Sormano climbs each taking simpler routes to the highest. Wags say that that is the best route since 2014 the place there was a small bunch dash with Dan Martin escaping by a second over Valverde, Costa, Wellens, SamSan, Albasini, Gil Bear, J-Rod, and Aru on a course with 4066 meters of climbing. Nonetheless, discover the names there: both critical climby guys or Classics riders who have been identified for getting over some steep hills once they wanted to. And sure, that course was undoubtedly simpler than this one. https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/il-lombardia/2014/route/stage-profiles

One might additionally say that that 2014 prime 10 featured a greater set of climbers than what we are going to see right this moment. That’s a robust assertion I do know however exterior of Pogacar I’m not seeing a bunch of fellows who can out climb him on their day. The plain level of departure for Pogacar with “departure” that means “that’s the final time we noticed him” being the Sormano climb which whereas simpler remains to be a beasty (although it does not have THAT descent): That climb is 12.9 kilometers lengthy, however a plateau pulls the common proportion of climb down to six.4 %. Within the first ten kilometers, nevertheless, the common is 6.9 %, earlier than the final kilometer and a half is as much as 9.1 %. If Pog is on type and he hasn’t attacked earlier than then this climb which peaks at 40km to go is the place’ it is at.

That final sentence has the phrase “if” doing a little work. I imply he had the shape at Emilia per week in the past however fall races do have a behavior of seeing fluctuating type for riders from one race to a different. Lombardy may see a rider who we’re discounting know have nice mid-season type whereas others could don’t have anything within the tank. Take Remco, who’s discounting his possibilities and for positive his outcomes since successful the Worlds ITT haven’t been the very best. However he and everybody else who’s casually desirous about biking will know that Pogacar will assault someplace at distance, both Sormano or the ascent in the direction of the Madonna del Ghisallo which tops out with 80 km to go. Or each. One can think about an assault at Ghisallo to winnow the sector down than one other at Sormano, and if want be, a remaining assault at Fermo. And bear in mind Pogacar has gained this race twice with a dash on the end line, in 2022 beating Mas and 2021 beating Masnada.

Climbing as much as THAT can be fairly candy.

If Oliver Zaugg can win this race, who stands an opportunity?

• Enric Mas was stable and has the endurance over such a protracted course.
• How about Davide Piganzoli for a storybook winner? He was third at Emilia, simply behind Pidcock who was a final minute unwilling scratch.
• Michael Woods and Simon Yates have proven some type. Not on Pogs’ degree, however that’s true for everybody right here. They usually can climb.
• Roger Adria has had a number of good ends in the final month and was a consider every race he participated in. Teammate Florian Lipowitz additionally appears recreation.
• Similar with Nielson Powless, winner of the a lot simpler Gran Piemonte however who could lastly be in form.
• We’ll see Matteo Jorgenson someplace alongside the route.
• Then there’s Remco. Possibly he has sufficient type? Possibly he can’t be freaked out by Pog’s assaults to trip his personal race?
• Tom Skujins? Positive. David Gaudu? Why not? Ben Healy? Sounds good!
• I’ll take your Lennert Van Eetvelt and lift you a William Junior Lecerf.
• How about Marc Hirschi, quickly to be on Tudor? That may be fascinating.

What Pog is aiming for

In order that leaves us with Pog. he has three wins which ties him for probably the most wins by a non-Italian with Sean Kelly and Henri Pelissier. For the reason that millennium started solely Damiano Cunego has additionally gained thrice. Fausto Coppi has the document variety of wins with 5. 4 of these have been in a row so with a win right this moment Pog will equal Coppi there and subsequent 12 months he’d be gunning for win #5. Doing that can additional his need to be ranked with the very best all-time so there’s that.