Race analysis, favourites, and predictions for Il Lombardia 2023

Il Lombardia is the best opportunity for pure climbers to win one of the five monuments, as it is the one that presents the most positive elevation gain. In addition, Il Lombardia has the unique characteristic of being the only one of the five that is not held in spring but in fall, and due to its position on the calendar, it is also known as "the classic of the falling leaves." For many cyclists, this race is the major goal at the end of the season and marks the beginning of a well-deserved rest period.

Route

The race will start in Como and finish in Bergamo, with a route designed for climbers that reverses its direction compared to last year. In fact, among the five monuments, Il Lombardia has the most variable route, but it will however include the obligatory passage through the cycling sanctuary of Madonna del Ghisallo (8.8 km at 3.9%). The route covers a total of 239 kilometers and adds 4600 meters of climbing, featuring ascents to Roncola (7.5 km at 7.3%), Berbeno (6.9 km at 5%), Passo della Crocetta (11.6 km at 5.8%), and Zambla Alta (9.8 km at 3.3%) before tackling the final part, where the race will be decided at Passo di Ganda (9.3 km at 7.1%), 30 km from the finish line, and Colle Aperto (1.3 km at 6.9%), which is reached with just 3 km to go.

Favorites

Tadej Pogačar (1200) is the winner of the last two editions of the race and starts once again as the top favorite for victory. Primoz Roglič (1200) and Remco Evenepoel (1200) are perhaps the other two main contenders on a list of favorites that also includes Richard Carapaz (800), Enric Mas (1000), Alexandr Vlasov (1000), Mikel Landa (800), Felix Gall (800), Ben O'Connor (600), Santiago Buitrago (600), Rigoberto Urán (400), Lenny Martinez (200), and Thibaut Pinot (800), who is retiring from professional cycling after this race.

Photo: © Il Lombardia