The 118th Giro di Lombardia, the last classic monument of a memorable cycling season, takes place tomorrow, along 255 kilometers from Bergamo to Como. The race of the dead leaves, with its difference in altitude of 4,700 meters from the Dolomite stage, will start from Gaetano Donizetti’s homeland at 10.40 am to end on the shore of the lake so dear to Alessandro Manzoni at around 5.00 pm in Viale Felice Cavallotti, rather than at the traditional Lungolario finish line Trent. The late change of arrival location is due to the risk of flooding of the lake.
At the start, leaving Bergamo, the race will head towards the Valseriana where, after 20 kilometres, the Forcellino di Bianzano (6.4km at 5%) and the Selvino (10.9km at 5.5%) will be tackled in rapid succession. %), which took over at the last minute at Passo di Ganda for safety reasons after the recent rains. A long descent will precede the next pair of climbs, consisting of the Colle di Berbenno (4.6km at 6.1%) and the climb towards Valpiana (10.1km at 6.2%). This will then be followed by 60 kilometers of descent and plains which will constitute the only moment of respite on the route. In Asso, after 165 kilometres, a lethal ring of 60 will begin which will include the two iconic ascents of the race coinciding with the Larian finish line: the Madonna del Ghisallo (6.3 km at 4.1%), which will be tackled from the lower side hard, and the Colma di Sormano (13km at 6.6%), with its very hard central part with double-digit gradients. Once the following descent is over, having passed Asso again at minus 37, the route will head towards Como with the last obstacle, the ferocious climb of San Fermo della Battaglia (2.2 km at 7.8%), which will end 5,000 meters from the I arrive.
Knowing full well that I am being repetitive, for which I apologize, I can only reiterate how everything seems to be set up for yet another galactic undertaking by the world champion. By winning tomorrow Tadej would write history twice, unequivocally legitimizing his status as an immortal of cycling. The holy trinity, composed, in chronological order, of Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, would be replaced by the four horsemen of the apocalypse. A triumph would allow the Slovenian to equal the consecutive poker achieved on the roads of Lombardy by the Campionissimo between 1946 and 1949. If this were not enough, the Lord of the Tricorn, with a success, would also equalize the greatest season in the history of cycling: that 1972 in which the Cannibal, in addition to the Giro-Tour double, was able to conquer three of the five great classics (Milan-Sanremo, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Giro di Lombardia). Equating the recent world championship victory on Swiss soil to that in a monument race, Pogacar would be on par with Eddy’s brightest season, leaving behind Coppi’s magical 1949.
Similarly to what happened at the Giro d’Italia five months ago, it is problematic to talk about opponents capable of opposing the champion from Komenda tomorrow. In fact, the only one Tadej will have to guard against is himself. If he is content with arriving first, remaining covered up to Ghisallo, it is difficult to foresee a solution other than his triumphant solitary arrival. We know well, however, that winning is not enough for him. On the other hand, it is when it goes into Nobody does it better mode that it manages to inflame the public, unleashing unprecedented enthusiasm on the roadside in the third millennium. This athletic exaltation of his is also his Achilles heel. In Zurich, two weeks ago it could have cost him dearly. Brought back within shooting distance of his opponents 15 kilometers from the finish line, he was saved by the lack of a collaboration agreement between Evenepoel, Hirschi and van der Poel. Tomorrow, with a decidedly less qualified group of starters, the chances of a similar situation being repeated will be decidedly lower.
So let’s buckle up and get ready for yet another memorable day of epic cycling, fully enjoying the delicious end-of-season potica.
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