The 2023 Il Lombardia can be held between Como and Bergamo on a identical path to the 2021 version when Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates) gained for the primary time, with the Slovenian anticipated to conflict with Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) within the Bergamo hills.
This 12 months’s ‘Race of the falling leaves’ can be hung on Saturday, October 7 and take into accout Bergamo’s largest ever rider Felice Gimondi, who died in 2019.
It’s going to additionally convey the curtain down on Thibaut Pinot’s profession, with the Frenchman anticipated to make an emotional farewell and in all probability a last display of panache within the end-of-season Italian Vintage. Loads of the ‘Extremely Pinot’ fanatics are anticipated to shuttle to Italy for his ultimate primary race. He gained the 2018 Il Lombardia when it completed in Como.
The 238 km course once more features a collection of onerous climbs within the Lombardy hills, with the climb as much as Bergamo Alto finishing simply 3 kilometres from the end. The riders who emerge at the ultimate climbs will descend at velocity to Bergamo Basso, with the descent launching into the end directly on Viale Roma.
Il Lombardia begins in Como, overlooking the lake after which heads to Cantù and climbs as much as the Madonna del Ghisallo, earlier than passing the bike owner’s chapel and museum after simply 38 km.
The riders descend to Bellagio and switch against Lecco after which Bergamo to climb the Roncola, Berbenno, the Passo della Crocetta, Zambla Alta after which the Passo di Ganda after 206 km of onerous racing. The descent contains 19 hairpins and a flat journey to Bergamo earlier than the Colle Aperto climb as much as Bergamo Alto, with a 200-metre segment of cobbled roads.
Pogačar attacked by myself at the Passo di Ganda in 2021, sudden his primary competitors. He used to be joined through native resident Fausto Masnada at the descent however then beat him within the dash in Bergamo. Adam Yates outsprinted Roglič, Alejandro Valverde, Julian Alaphilippe, David Gaudu, Romain Bardet and Michael Woods for 3rd position after the disorganised chase crew got here house 51 seconds down on Pogačar.
All through the reliable race presentation, Damiano Cunego, Il Lombardia winner in 2004, 2007 and 2008, tipped Pogačar to win once more and entire an extraordinary hat trick of victories handiest in the past completed through Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi, who gained 4 consecutive occasions between 1946 and 1949.
Vincenzo Nibali gained Il Lombardia in 2015 and 2017 and ended his profession on the race in 2022. He picked Evenepoel as his favorite. The Belgian rode aggressively on the Vuelta a España however crashed out of the 2020 Il Lombardia and fractured his pelvis after shedding keep watch over of his motorcycle at the descent of the Muro di Sormano.
25 groups of 7 riders will tackle Il Lombardia, with the 18 WorldTour groups joined through Eolo-Kometa, Inexperienced Undertaking-Bardiani-CSF-Faizane, Israel-Premier Tech, Lotto Dstny, Q36.5, TotalEnergies and Tudor Professional Biking.
“We’ve got designed a tricky and selective course, with over 4400 metres of altitude achieve, beautiful very similar to the 2021 version by which Tadej Pogačar gained for the primary time,” race director Mauro Vegni stated when the course used to be offered in Milan on Tuesday.
“He’ll be one of the crucial stars on the race and he’s going to be having a look to make it a hat-trick however that can be made tough through the presence of distinguished competitors reminiscent of Giro d’Italia winner Primož Roglič and previous International Champion Remco Evenepoel.
“We also are happy that an excellent champion and previous winner of the race like Thibaut Pinot has selected Il Lombardia to mention good-bye to the fanatics.”
Cyclingnews could have complete are living protection of Il Lombardia, with particular information, options and interviews earlier than and after the final large race of the 2023 males’s season.