The last great rendezvous of the year. Il Lombardia 2025 is the race where the stars gather one final time to deliver a spectacular show for the fans before parking the bikes for a few weeks and heading off on well-earned holidays. The final Monument of the season runs from Como to Bergamo over 241 km, and its menu of climbs is more than likely to reward the pure climbers.
Since 2021, the winner’s name on the roll of honor hasn’t changed: Tadej Pogačar, of course. Last year he sealed a record four consecutive victories, something no one had ever achieved before. This year the stakes are even higher: should he win again, he would equal Fausto Coppi’s all-time record of five victories.
In the last two weeks he has swept both the World Championships and the Europeans, and on Tuesday he added the Tre Valli Varesine, proving that his 2025 season is far from over. In his two previous triumphs in Bergamo, “Mr. 107 victories” launched his decisive move on the Passo di Ganda. If that’s the plan again this time, then it will be down to his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad to keep the race on a tight leash until then.
He won’t lack support: the usual armada is at his disposal, with Pavel Sivakov, Jay Vine, and Adam Yates – winner of the Coppa Agostoni last weekend – ready to control and shut down attacks. And then there’s Isaac Del Toro, the rider everyone would love to see challenge Pogačar but who will instead be his most valuable ally. The Mexican has taken 15 wins this year (13 in the last three months), so either way, he’s bound to be in the mix for a big result.
The main threat to UAE will once again be Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–QuickStep), freshly crowned World and European TT champion but beaten by Pogačar in both road races. Last year he finished 2nd, overwhelmed by the Slovenian’s dominance, but the Olympic champion is nothing if not stubborn, he’ll be back to try and withstand Pogačar’s attacks. He also has unfinished business with the “Race of the Falling Leaves”: that horror crash in 2020 won’t fade from memory until he finally wins Il Lombardia. Supporting him will be Mikel Landa and a resurgent Gianmarco Garofoli, who impressed at both Worlds and Europeans.
The list of outsiders is nearly endless. By palmarès and pedigree, first among them is Primož Roglič (Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe). His first season in new colors hasn’t been dazzling, but he was 3rd here in 2023 (also in Bergamo). This time, with less pressure and a strong team including Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov (3rd in 2020), and a brilliant young Giulio Pellizzari, he could seriously strike.
Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) arrives buoyed by his podium at the Vuelta a España and a fine 2nd at the Giro dell’Emilia, while Ben Healy (EF Education–EasyPost), World Championship bronze medalist, will co-lead with Richard Carapaz. Add Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl–Trek), 4th at Worlds, 7th at Euros, and one of the few who has outfoxed both Pogačar and Evenepoel at Amstel Gold; and rising star Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), 3rd at the Europeans behind those two giants.
Don’t discount Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) even if his last podium here dates back to 2017, or Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), who has looked sharp in recent Italian Classics.
Then there’s Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), 4th at this year’s Tour de France, Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla), Einer Rubio (Movistar), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Neilson Powless (EF Education–EasyPost), Bauke Mollema (Lidl–Trek, winner in 2019 and 3rd just days ago at GranPiemonte), Romain Grégoire (Groupama–FDJ), and the Visma | Lease a Bike duo of Cian Uijtdebroecks and Ben Tulett.
Alongside Pellizzari and Garofoli, Italy’s hopes rest on Christian Scaroni, 4th at the Europeans but below par at GranPiemonte, and perhaps Fausto Masnada (XDS Astana), 2nd in Bergamo in 2021 behind Pogačar’s first triumph.
Also lining up are Davide Piganzoli (Polti VisitMalta), Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla), Andrea Bagioli (Lidl–Trek, 2nd in 2023), Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious), and Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar), racing on home roads. The last Italian victory dates back to 2017, when Vincenzo Nibali sealed his second win in Como.
