Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, last winner of the Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippedouble world champion and Vincenzo Nibali, some of the stars have won the big three will participate in the 116th edition of Il Lombardía, the fifth and last monument of the seasonAlejandro Valverde’s last season as a professional after 20 years in the peloton and 133 wins.
Special appointment for many reasons in the “Classic of the dead leaves” that will take place this Saturday between Bergamo and Como with a route of 253 km. After the World Cup, and without Evenepoel, many stars come to the event to illuminate the end of the season and say goodbye to the year with a beautiful monument.
On the other hand, world cycling in Il Lombardía will see the last pedaling with the competitive number of Alejandro Valverde (Las Lumbreras de Montagudo, 42 years old), who will get off the bike after 2 decades in the front row of cycling. He will do so with a good moment of form and being one of the favorites to win Como.
The emotional moment will not end with Valverde, as a local idol, the Italian Vincenzo Nibali (Messina, 37 years old), one of the seven winners of the big three in the history of cycling, the bike will also hang after Il Lombardía, as well as another charismatic Spanish cyclist, Mikel Nieve, who is now in the ranks of Caja Rural.
MOVISTAR DREAM WITH VALVERDE AND ENRIC MAS
Until the finish line no one will remember the sentimentality surrounding the test. There are many aspiring to win yes or yes, among them Tadej Pogacar, never done in the World Cup and recent winner of the Tres Valles Varesinos and second in the Giro de Emilia. The Slovenian will be the favorite to defend the title he won in 2021.
Movistar could be the main opposition to Pogacar. The Vaverde-Enric Mas duo is seriouswith the Murcian on the recent podiums of the Copa Agostoni and Tres Valles Varesinos, and logically dreams of saying goodbye to what would be his 134th victory. The Spaniard is also good, he beat Pogacar in Varese and is counted as a candidate.
The entry list shows quality with Dane Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the Tour, second in the recent Tour of Croatia and has two stage wins. Ineos presents Carlos Rodríguez and Colombian Daniel Felipe Martínez, Astana Nibali and “Supermán” López, Bora Hansgrohe Sergio Higuita and Vlasov, DSM Bardet and Landa will be the leader of Bahrain.
There are plenty of incentives for a Giro de Lombardia that doesn’t include the Muro di Sormano this year and will focus a good part of its decisive phase on the latter part, although there are fewer flat sections than on other occasions.
The race has a rough first part, up to km 150, with climbs to Forcellino di Banzano (km 29), Ganda (km 50), Forcella di Bura (km 105), Berbenno (km 120) and San Gottardo (km 150) . Longer than the finals, indecisive, but important for what comes next.
In the hot moments, first the Madonna del Ghisallo (km 192; 8.6 km at 6.2%), and then a novel final loop around the finish line in Como with two passes to San Fermo (2.7 km at 7.2%; last climbing , crowned only 5 km from the finish) and another of Civiglio (4 km at almost 10%), 17 from the finish.
As exciting moments are anticipated at the finish line, there are sure to be a few tears that will fall on the sharp faces of renowned cycling professionals. With “El Bala” and the “Mesina Shark” a good part of cycling history was lost.
last winner
2021: Tadej Pogacar (ESL)
2020: Jakob Fuglsang (DIN)
2019: Bauke Mollema (PSB)
2018: Thibaut Pinot (FRA)
2017: Vincenzo Nibali (ITA)
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2013: Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP)
2012: Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP)
Source: La Verdad
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