Let’s face it, it will feel very strange not to see Tadej Pogačar on the top step of the Il Lombardia podium. The Slovenian has won the last five editions, and the last time the race was held without him was in 2020, when the Classic of the Falling Leaves took place in August due to the Covid pandemic and was won by Jakob Fuglsang. In the meantime, an entire generation of riders has practically come and gone.
Click HERE to see the start list for Il Lombardia 2026
Back in that surreal 2020, a 20-year-old lined up as the overwhelming favourite: Remco Evenepoel. Instead of fighting for victory, however, he came perilously close to ending his career after a horrific crash on the descent of the Colma di Sormano, which left him with multiple fractures and sidelined him for months. The current Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe rider has been chasing victory ever since, finishing second in the last two editions, only to be denied time and again by the Slovenian. This time, though, he has a golden opportunity, perhaps one that will never come around again. On the roads from Bergamo to Como, the Belgian will show off his new European champion’s jersey, but he will only consider the day a success if he stands on the top step of the podium.
In many ways, it could be a repeat of the hugely entertaining World Championships in Montréal, because without Tadej, absolutely anything could happen. UAE Team Emirates-XRG will, as always, be a formidable force, not least because they have the new world champion Brandon McNulty in their ranks, but also because Isaac Del Toro is determined to claim the first Monument victory of his career. At GranPiemonte, despite missing out on the win, he showed that he has the legs to put on a spectacular show.
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) will also be out for blood. He suffered a heavy blow at the World Championships, but that setback will only make him more determined. He has not raced since his trip to Canada, making him the rider who has offered the fewest clues about his current form. Yet he has been among the frontrunners in virtually every race he has entered this year. It is hard to imagine Saturday being any different.
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5) will also need to sharpen his killer instinct, having looked incredibly strong lately without quite turning that strength into results. But champions tend to rise to the occasion, and Il Lombardia, the final Monument of the year, could be exactly the right moment. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) will be equally eager to raise his arms in triumph, looking increasingly comfortable taking on this extraordinary generation of talents. The mere two millimetres that separated him from European gold could provide just the motivation he needs to chase a career-defining result, particularly in a race where he has already stood on the podium, back in 2024.
Then there is an impressive group of riders hoping to take advantage of the battle between the favourites and spring a surprise. First and foremost are Matteo Jorgenson and Davide Piganzoli (Visma | Lease a Bike), who have looked lively and well coordinated in their recent outings; Quinn Simmons and Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), who offer Ciccone some intriguing tactical options; Michael Storer (Tudor), third last year; and Lennert Van Eetvelt and Jarno Widar (Lotto Intermarché), the latter fresh from victory at Tre Valli Varesine.
And the list goes on: Jai Hindley, Giulio Pellizzari and Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), who will nevertheless be riding in support of Evenepoel; the ever-reliable Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana); Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious); Vuelta a España winner Enric Mas (Movistar), runner-up in 2022 on this very same finish; Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost); and Oscar Onley and Thymen Arensman (Netcompany Ineos). Before the well-earned holidays begin, there is one final battle for the crown.
