This race was called the Giro di Lombardia up until the 2014 edition when it changed its name to be shorter.
This is cycling’s fifth monument and, unlike the other four which come at the beginning of a season, this one occurs at the end.
The race’s position six moths after Liege-Bastogne-Liege has led to it being one of the most prestigious on the calendar as it is the final one-day race of the World Tour season.
The riders who race Il Lombardia will have had a season that has already seen three Grand Tours and a host of smaller stage races throughout the year, so they will be carrying six months of bike racing in their legs as they role up to the line – there isn’t a carbon fibre bike or any road cycling gear in the world that can make up for that.
It was first staged in 1905 and bears the charming nickname of the ‘race of the falling leaves’ due to its place in the Autumnal months of the professional cycling calendar.
The route takes in the picturesque views around Lake Como in Northern Italy and always features the climb of the Madonna del Ghisallo – an iconic climb akin to the Zoncolan in the Giro d’Italia or Alp d’Huez in the Tour de France.
Due to its position on the calendar the race doesn’t tend to be dominated by the riders you see battling for victory in the Spring classics like Fabian Cancellara or Tom Boonen.
It’s most capped victor is Italian cycling legend Fausto Coppi, and although the winners of the race are Italian for the majority, the past few years have seen riders from Spain, Ireland, Switzerland and Belgium all take victory in the final monument.
Il Lombardia is a notoriously tough race to call, as everyone who expected to do well in their race programme but didn’t live up to expectation will be wanting to round of their season with a win in Lombardy.
