120 editions, more than a century of cycling, champions and legendary exploits. Click HERE to retrace the history of Il Lombardia.

From its inaugural edition until 1960, Il Lombardia always started and finished in Milan, using a variety of iconic locations across the city. It was the era of cycling’s pioneers, legendary champions and extraordinary stories. It was also the period in which the Race of the Falling Leaves built the myth that still surrounds it today.

1926: Binda’s insane breakfast

In 1926, Alfredo Binda turned Il Lombardia into a survival challenge. Rain, cold, rough roads and an unrelenting pace shattered the field, with the Italian champion reaching Milan an astonishing 29’40” ahead of Antonio Negrini. Yet the story most closely associated with that unforgettable day comes from Binda himself: the 28 eggs he reportedly ate between breakfast and the race, an unlikely source of fuel for a gruelling 251-kilometre ride.

It is a story that raises a smile today, but one that perfectly captures the spirit of 1920s cycling, when nutrition, improvisation and sheer physical resilience all came together in the same extraordinary feat.

1956: Darrigade’s victory, Coppi’s heartbreak and the White Lady’s famous gesture

The 1956 Giro di Lombardia remains one of Fausto Coppi‘s most poignant defeats. At 37 years of age and approaching the twilight of his career, the Campionissimo had broken away with Diego Ronchini and looked capable of claiming a sixth victory in the Race of the Falling Leaves.

A few kilometres from the finish, however, the duo was caught by a chasing group. According to the story that later became part of cycling folklore – and was immortalised by Italian legendary journalist Gianni Brera – the decisive spark came from the famous “umbrella” gesture (a somewhat rude non-verbal insult pretty common in Italy) made by the Dama Bianca, Giulia Occhini, towards Fiorenzo Magni and the other chasers from a race vehicle. Occhini, Coppi’s great love, had become one of the most talked-about figures in Italy. Their relationship, begun while both were still married, was condemned by the Church, challenged by the law and fiercely debated by public opinion.

Stung by what he perceived as a provocation, Magni launched a furious chase and managed to come across. At the Vigorelli Velodrome, Coppi was then beaten in the sprint by Frenchman André Darrigade before breaking down in tears. The image of the weeping Campionissimo became one of the most iconic moments in cycling history, symbolising the end of a champion’s sporting reign – but never the end of his legend.

Click HERE to discover more about the century-old history of Il Lombardia.