In Italy, they call the race "La Classica delle foglie morte", the classic of falling autumn leaves. The Tour of Lombardy traditionally closes the European cycling season as the last major one-day race. The fact that a few years ago the UCI scheduled another race of the most important racing series, the World Tour, a few days later and many thousands of kilometres away in China does not change this. But while the Tour of Guangxi tends to see reserve teams at the start and some professional cyclists might see the long-distance journey at the end of the season as a punishment, "Il Lombardia" is the last big showdown for the world's best cyclists. The start list shows a real star line-up for the last time this year - and this will also be the case before the next edition on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
Record attempt by Pogačar
This year, world and European champion Tadej Pogačar wants to set a record in the fifth and final Monument of the year, as the most important classic one-day races are called. Should the 27-year-old Slovenian win for the fifth time, he would be the record winner and equal Fausto Coppi, the Italian cycling hero of the 1940s and 1950s. Unlike the Italian, who died young and was successful from 1946 to 1949 and then again in 1954, 'Pogi' would have an unblemished record: In four starts since 2021, he has finished first four times so far - which is alternately in Bergamo or Como. Organiser RCS changes the direction and start and finish location every year. This time, the route starts early in the race from Como via the Madonna del Ghisallo and then into the foothills of the Bergamo Alps, before the finale begins at the latest on the ascent to the historic centre of Bergamo, the Città alta (see also message about the route). Even if the characteristics of the route change slightly depending on the direction of travel, Pogačar is, as always, the top favourite. He proved his strong late season form during the week with a light-footed victory in the traditional one-day race Tre Valli Varesine.
Remco Evenepoel as the first challenger
The first challenger, as of late: Remco Evenepoel, who was very often second or first behind the outstanding Slovenian, as he was recently in the road races at the World Championships and European Championships or last year at the Tour of Lombardy. Back then, the eternal rival distanced him by a whopping 3:16 minutes in the toughest one-day race. The Belgian, who has ambivalent memories of the Tour of Lombardy, has never been closer to success: In 2020, he crashed over a bridge into a ravine on the descent from the Colma di Sormano and suffered a nasty injury. The extended group of favourites includes Brit Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), who wants to travel on to the Gravel World Championships straight after the finish. Veteran Primoz Roglic will start the race as leader for the German team Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe. The soon-to-be 36-year-old Slovenian has already finished third (2023) and fourth (2021) in the last Classics. Even on his debut at Il Lombardia, the competitors should keep an eye out for 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), who recently made a name for himself as third in the European Championships. Riders such as Mattias Skjelmose (Denmark / Lidl-Trek), the Irish World Championship bronze medallist Ben Healy and Richard Carapaz from Ecuador (both EF Education-EasyPost) should have similarly good chances. They will be joined by two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), who has recently returned to winning form.
Other riders have what it takes to be among the front runners, but as Pogačar's team-mate at UAE Team Emirates-XRG they will most likely have to give way to the star: 21-year-old Isaac del Toro in particular has shown this season that he is capable of great success on mountainous terrain in the future. He underlined his top form two days before the start of the Lombardy race by winning the Gran Piemonte one-day race solo. Adam Yates and Frenchman Pavel Sivakov can also hope for a top result on the long climbs in Lombardy.
Ciccone waives
Thousands of Tifosi at the side of the route are usually enthusiastic about all the professional cyclists, but their special attention is naturally focused on their Italian compatriots, even if none of them can be considered top favourites like Vincenzo Nibali, who retired in 2022 (winner in 2015 and 2017). Last year's third-placed Giulio Ciccone cancelled his start at short notice. Among the Italians, Christian Scaroni (XDS-Astana) and the up-and-coming climber Giulio Pellizzarri from the Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team can count on top placings. Team Israel-Premier Tech is also not taking part. Although qualified and in principle entitled to start, the team is not on the start list. According to the news agency AFP, the organiser RCS announced that the decision not to allow the team to start was made by mutual agreement. This follows the many anti-Israeli protests along the route, especially during the Vuelta a Espana, which led to massive security problems.
Poor prospects for the Germans
The German riders are unlikely to have much to play for. Tour bronze medallist Florian Lipowitz sent a message via his Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team, that he had already finished his season earlier than originally planned and will no longer be competing. The course is most likely to suit German champion Georg Zimmermann, who, however, was hampered by health problems during his starts at the World Championships and European Championships. The dry spell in terms of German success is likely to continue. It has been almost two decades since a German finished on the podium at the Tour of Lombardy. In 2006, Fabian Wegmann (Team Gerolsteiner) finished third in Paolo Bettini's victory - the best result for a German since the first edition in 1905.
Andreas Kublik
Editor
