Refresh
There may be one overwhelming favorite in the present day and that’s Tadej Pogacar. Not solely has he received the previous three editions, protecting each Bergamo to Como and the opposite method round, however he has had one of many biggest seasons of all time, profitable the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, World Championship, and one other Monument with Liege-Bastogne-Liege again within the Spring. For those who thought the novelty was carrying off you solely have to take a look at his astonishingly one-sided victory on the Giro dell’Emilia one week in the past. Fairly frankly, he’s making it seem like a stroll within the park. Races like this ought to be hard-won issues however proper now it might virtually be extra shocking had been he to lose.
The route is not the largest piece of in a single day information. No, that may be Tom Pidcock claiming he has been “de-selected” from the Ineos Grenadiers line-up.
As regards to the route, there have been some last-minute modifications, on account of landslides from the heavy rainfall that has hit northern Italy over the previous week. Nothing drastic, however the end line has been moved away from the shores of Lake Como, whereas one of many early climbs, the Passo di Ganda, has been changed by the similarly-proportioned Selvino.
We’re in Bergamo in the present day, which implies we’re heading to Como. Il Lombardia has developed the endearing custom of flipping its two begin and end areas, so whereas there’s no finale up by way of the atmospheric partitions of Bergamo Alto, this 12 months we’ll see the Madonna del Ghisallo, Colma di Sormano, and San Fermo della Battaglia. We won’t, nevertheless, see the Civiglio, with the vicious climb – normally coming because the penultimate take a look at – dominated out on account of landslides. That makes the finale rather less heavy than latest iterations of the Bergamo-Como route, however we do have extra climbs within the first half of the race, that means we’re nonetheless in for a complete elevation acquire in extra of 4,750 metres.
The riders and groups have gathered in Bergamo for the beginning of this 118th version of Il Lombardia. The roll-out is developing at 10:35 native time, the beginning correct simply 5 minutes after that. Six hours later, after 255km within the saddle, we’ll be calling the winner over the road.
Right here we’re then. The leaves are falling, the season is in its closing throes, and whereas there are a number of extra races to return in October, that is the final large one. It’s virtually 120 years previous, it’s one in every of biking’s 5 Monument Classics, and it boasts a stellar begin checklist that features the brand new world champion, Tadej Pogacar. It’s Il Lombardia time, and we’ll have each inch of it lined proper right here.
Good day and welcome to Cyclingnews’ dwell protection of 2024 Il Lombardia.
