The route of Il Lombardia is virtually a carbon copy of last year’s edition. The riders travel from Bergamo to Como, while most climbing is clustered in the last 70 kilometres. This part of the race takes in the Madonna del Ghisallo, Muro di Sormano, Civiglio and the climb to Fermo della Battaglia before a 6 kilometres descent leads into Como.
Normally, Il Lombardia is the last Monument of the season. It is an October race of roughly 250 kilometres and an elevation gain of more than 4,000 metres. But no bad weather – and wet leaves on the wet roads – this time. Scorching heat, yes.
Remco Evenepoel is on a roll. The Flemish youngster turned out on top in all the races that he competed this year. Recently, he outperformed the likes of Jakob Fuglsang and Simon Yates with a 50 kilometres solo in the Queen Stage of the Tour de Pologne.
Recent editions were won by Bauke Mollema (2019, Como finish), Thibaut Pinot (2018, Como finish), Vincenzo Nibali (2017 and 2015, Como finish), Esteban Chaves (2016, Bergamo finish) and Dan Martin (2014, Bergamo finish). In a more distant past Philippe Gilbert was also successful in Lombardy.
Favourites Tour of Lombardy 2020
***** Vincenzo Nibali, Remco Evenepoel
**** Jakob Fuglsang, Bauke Mollema, Michael Woods
*** Alberto Bettiol, George Bennett, Aleksandr Vlasov
** Maximilian Schachmann, Giulio Ciccone, Richard Carapaz
* Iván Sosa, Mikel Nieve, Fabio Aru, Valerio Conti, Ion Izagirre