This week in the Cyclosphere: The Race of the Falling Leaves. The vital stats, the contenders — and the contender who’s not there, yet whose presence is nonetheless felt.
We here at Pez love bike races wherever they happen, and of course are huge Tour aficionados, but there’s something about Italy, especially in the fall, that gets our in-shape hearts racing. Stay tuned to Pez for all the Lombardia history, coverage and commentary!
THE THURSDAY THREE
- What is Il Lombardia?
- The Contenders
- The Tadej-less Lombardia
AND…WHAT’S ON MIKE’S MIND
- Tuning Into Lombardia
MIKE’S RIDE OF THE WEEK
- My Fizik Saddle Fitting at Mike’s Bikes in San Rafael, CA
PEZ VIDEO OF THE WEEK
- Lombardia Week Preview!
Topic #1: What Is Il Lombardia?
Coming at the end of the annual racing calendar, Il Lombardia — or The Race of the Falling Leaves — tends to get short attentional shrift, especially compared to the big name spring Classics. But thanks to its age and its spectacular but witheringly challenging parcours, it lives up to its Monumental status.
Start with the age. The race was first run in 1905 as the Milano-Milano, which makes it older than the Giro d’Italia itself. (Check out Pez’ account of that devilish version of Lombardia here.) That kind of pedigree matters in a sport that treats history as currency. Every great climber and attacker of the last century has measured himself against these roads, and the winners’ list reads like a who’s who of cycling royalty. Fausto Coppi is the benchmark, with five victories, four of them in a row after the war. Merckx, Gimondi, Saronni and Kelly all added their names too.
Then there’s the course. While Milano-Sanremo can end in a sprint and Roubaix can turn on a puncture, Lombardia is almost impossible to win by luck. The route changes from year to year, but the ingredients stay the same: relentless climbing in the hills around Lake Como and Bergamo, narrow roads, fast descents and a finale that punishes anyone who is even slightly off form. At roughly 250 kilometers with several thousand meters of vertical gain, it asks for climbing legs and the endurance to still have them in the final hour.
The Madonna del Ghisallo is the heart of it. The small chapel at the top of the climb is the spiritual home of Italian cycling, dedicated to the sport’s patron, and it is filled with jerseys, bikes and memorabilia from generations of riders. When the race goes over the Ghisallo, you feel the weight of that history. Other climbs have given the race its drama over the years, from the savage Muro di Sormano to the late sting of San Fermo della Battaglia. Whatever the exact route, the race tends to explode somewhere in the last hour.
The timing adds another layer. By October, the peloton is frayed. Some riders are chasing a last contract, some are looking for any win to rescue a lost season, and others are simply running on fumes. The weather can be glorious or miserable, sometimes both in the same afternoon, and the autumn light over the lakes and the colored leaves makes it one of the most beautiful races on the calendar.
In recent years, Tadej Pogačar has turned Lombardia into something close to personal property, stacking up five consecutive wins, equaling Coppi’s mark. That has only underlined what the race has always been: a test that finds the strongest rider on the day, with no hiding places.
I’ve admittedly not paid close attention to this classic in the past, but after a couple of weekends of sizzling racing, I’ll be setting my alarm to catch the second half from here on the West Coast. Because this year’s version is impossible to predict.
Topic #2: The Contenders
Which brings us from the what to the who: With Pogačar determinedly finished with racing this year, the 2026 version is up for grabs.
Remco Evenepoel heads up the list of favorites, but is nothing like a sure pick: His inconsistency — consider his win in Québec; falling off the pace in Montréal and the World Championships; and then recovering from a crash to take the European Championships — means that forecasting a Remco victory always bears some risk, especially on such an ascent-heavy course.
But no one else appears any more certain: Giulio Ciccone is always a solid climber pick, though appeared to struggle just to hang on to Evenepoel last Sunday in Slovenia, even after Remco chased him down. Tom Pidcock shows frequent flashes, and may be the right man for this technical, up-and-down course. Davide Piganzoli looked great at the Giro dell’Emilia and deserves some attention, while newly crowned World Champ Brandon McNulty likely doesn’t have quite the climbing chops for this course.
My prediction: Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro will slowly ride away from the field, with Del Toro emerging victorious. He’s likely still fretting about giving up the second Tour de France podium spot to Evenepoel, and will relish not having to ride for McNulty.
My podium: Del Toro, Seixas, Pidcock. See you Saturday.
Topic #3: The Tadej-less Lombardia
Il Lombardia has been Tadej Pogačar’s late-season playground for the last five years, but he’s staying true to his commitment to delaying racing until 2027, and won’t line up in Bergamo.
Still, he casts a skinny shadow over the race, as he did over the European Championships, riding nearby (and sporting the Euro champ’s jersey during the brief window between losing the World Champion’s stripes and Remco Evenepoel taking over the Euro stars kit).
He also followed the race in the official’s car.
That the European Championships were held in Slovenia at all is a testament to Pogačar’s influence on the sport, as is the Giro’s rumored trip into Pogi’s home nation in 2027.
While some injured riders disappear during their recovery (We’re looking at you, Mr. Vingegaard), Pogačar seems genuinely to enjoy himself in virtually any situation, whether it’s riding away from the field at Il Lombardia or practically reveling in falling out of shape after crashing out of the Vuelta.
Whether he’ll be onsite or nearby at Il Lombardia remains to be seen. My guess is that he’ll steer clear, having shown up in Ljubljana because not doing so would have been even more obvious, and wanting to pay respect to his rivals as they enjoy their one opportunity to duke it out amid something close to parity.
Still, cycling’s greatest rider — possibly ever — will be present in some form at Il Lombardia. Even when he’s not racing, he’s impossible to ignore.
And…What’s on Mike’s Mind:
Tuning Into Lombardia
No revelatory commentary this week (if that’s what’s mustered here in other weeks): Just reveling in this sans Tadej phase of racing.
That’s certainly not to wish retrospective ill on the G.O.A.T., as I consider him (with apologies to King Eddy); that’s just to say that racing without a dominant figure is a whole lot spicier, especially on a highly selective course like Lombardia.
I catch most races, and not only because this is my nights-and-weekends job. But during this stretch I’ve been paying the streaming fees and waking up early to follow even the early action. I’ll do so this Saturday, starting early on the West Coast, hoping for yet another thrilling race.
MIKE’S RIDE OF THE WEEK:
MY FIZIK SADDLE FITTING AT MIKE’S BIKES IN SAN RAFAEL, CA
No Strava link this week, friends: My “ride” was the front end of my One to One fitting — the very process that one Tadej Pogačar goes through to find just the right saddle for his particular um…physique.
I’ll post a full review after receiving the saddle (the process takes three weeks, with a fitting at either end and 3D printing in between); for now, I’ll report that Sam, the fitter at Mike’s Bikes in San Rafael, a town in Marin County, California, couldn’t have been more professional and patient. He took time to sort out some of my bike’s idiosyncrasies, and even recommended a local route so I could get in a few miles after the session.
I did pedal my bike for a total of about 15 minutes during the fitting, so I figure that counts for a Ride of the Week. I’ll let you know when the saddle arrives.
PEZ VIDEO
Il Lombardia is Richard’s favorite race of the year. Check out his all-Lombardy week preview video here!
- Got a comment, thought or suggestion? Drop us a line at: Content@PezCyclingNews.com
- See PEZ FACEBOOK here
- Check out PEZ INSTAGRAM here
- And watch ALL of PEZ videos on our YouTube channel
The post EUROTRASH: The All-Lombardia Thursday Three appeared first on PezCycling News.
