2022 Il Lombardia Race Preview
The details of this year's 2022 Il Lombardia are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The roads around Lake Como will once again play host to cycling's final monument of the season, a race steeped in atmosphere and tradition that every classics rider dreams of winning. Il Lombardia, known as the Race of the Falling Leaves, tends to produce its own kind of specialist, someone who can handle sustained climbing and repeated accelerations over a course that demands both endurance and explosive power.
This year's edition will see riders tackle a demanding route in the Lombardy region, with the climbs of the Civiglio and San Fermo della Battaglia likely to feature prominently in the finale. The course demands respect from the very first pedal stroke, as the accumulated fatigue of a long season adds another layer of difficulty to an already brutal day in the saddle.
Tadej Pogacar arrives as the overwhelming favourite after a season of near-total dominance. The Slovenian has been virtually unstoppable in 2022, winning across multiple terrains and against all types of competition. His combination of climbing ability, tactical intelligence and finishing speed makes him exceptionally dangerous in a race like this, and he will be watched closely from the very first climb.
Defending champion Enric Mas and climbers such as Aleksandr Vlasov and David Gaudu will be hoping to challenge, while an in-form Remco Evenepoel cannot be overlooked given his recent victories. Simon Yates and Romain Bardet represent teams with the firepower to try and disrupt Pogacar's expected dominance.
The weather, the crowd lining the lakeside roads, and the sheer beauty of the Lombardy landscape make this a race unlike any other. Whatever unfolds, it promises to be a worthy final act of the monuments season.
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