The Spanish Alejandro Valverde and the Italian Vincenzo Nibalitwo champions with a long list of winners, will compete on Saturday in the last race of their careers in the turn of
Lombardywhich will have a Colombian presence.
Placed at the end of the season and disputed in a majestic setting, the classic of the fallen leaves will serve this year as a red carpet to honor the departure of two artists who, due to their longevity, winners and aura, have marked the last two decades of cycling , also its darker side.
It will be strange not to see the silhouettes of “El Bala”, 42 years old, and Tiburón de Mesina, who will soon turn 38, in the peloton. Together, they have accumulated 185 victories, of which 133 are from the Spanish and not precisely feats negligible. Valverde (Movistar) was world champion in 2018, has won four editions of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, four Flechas Wallona, the Vuelta and 17 stage victories in grand tours.
Nibali (Astana), for his part, managed to win the Giro d’Italia (in 2013 and 2016), the Tour de France (in 2014) and the Vuelta (in 2010), in addition to the two Italian monuments, the Milan-San Remo and the Giro de Lombardia, in which he won twice in 2015 and 2017. “It is a great honor to finish my career in one of my favorite races,” insists the idol of the tifosi, who knew how to stay away from cases of doping.
Colombian presence
Lombardy will have the presence of four Colombians: Rigoberto Urán, Daniel Martínez, Sergio Higuita, Miguel Ángel López.
Rigo is one of those called to appear, and there are also very good expectations with Higuita.
However, the big favorite to take this title is Pogacarwho arrives determined to defend his crown.
The race has an exhausting first part, up to km 150, with 5 climbs, and at the decisive moments the Madonna del Ghisallo will arrive first (km 192; 8.6 km at 6.2%), and then a new loop finish around the finish line of Como with two steps through San Fermo (2.7 km at 7.2%; last ascent, crowned just 5 km from the finish) and another through Civiglio (4 km at almost 10%) , at 17 from the conclusion
SPORTS, EFE AND AFP
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