Tour of Lombardy, the route: from Bergamo to Como, changes on the last day

Three kilometers more – 255 instead of 252 – and therefore a modified route compared to the one announced in September, due to bad weather: here, then, is what the Lombardia will be like, which is staged today for the 118th time (no major Italian race takes place has been held several times: the Milan-Sanremo is at 115 and the Giro d’Italia at 107). The first changes will be in the initial part, following the heavy rains of the last few days which caused landslides and flooding. At km 37.5 the race, having passed the town of Cene, will turn towards Albino, and not towards Gazzaniga as per the original route, to face the ascent of Selvino from Nembro (11.1 km, difference in altitude of 619 metres: average gradient 5.6%, maximum 9%) which will replace the Passo di Ganda (9.2 km) The initially planned route will be resumed at km 57, immediately after the Selvino brow. Even the finale, due to the risk of flooding of Lake Como, has undergone some changes: the finish line will not be on Lungo Lario Trento, as in the past when the race ended in Como, but in viale Felice Cavallotti (the runners will turn there within the last kilometre).

Key

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The substance does not change: Lombardy remains the hardest Monument, even more so than Liège-Bastogne-Liège because between Bergamo and Como you climb those long climbs that cannot be found in Belgium. And that leaves Valpiana, Ghisallo (from the less demanding side of Asso and Magreglio, with the descent to Regatola di Bellagio), Colma di Sormano and San Fermo della Battaglia. The big news is the climbing of Colma di Sormano from Nesso, i.e. from the lake. That it could be the key point is confirmed by Vincenzo Nibali, who knows the area very well and won the Lombardia in 2015 and 2017: “An ascent that hurts, very demanding – the words of the Shark, who today will not miss the great final – Without forgetting that then there is the descent towards Asso and Canzo, not at all simple because it is characterized by many hairpin bends that leave no room for any return actions”. Whoever passes the Ghisallo first will receive the prize dedicated to Pier Luigi Todisco, the Gazzetta journalist who died on 7 October 2011 while on his way to work by bike: he was in love with cycling, and the Ghisallo was his favorite climb.