Different cities, one timeless Classic
As the cycling calendar evolved and the sport entered a new era, Il Lombardia managed to embrace change while remaining true to its identity.
From 1995 to 2001, the race started in Varese and finished in Bergamo, two cities that had never previously hosted the event.
In 2002 the start moved to Cantù, before returning to Como in 2003.
For the following three editions, the race even began across the Swiss border in Mendrisio, as the town prepared to host the 2009 UCI Road World Championships.
Between 2007 and 2009, Varese once again welcomed the start, while Como hosted the finish.
The next two editions saw Milan return to the race, with the start taking place on Via Galvani in front of the newly inaugurated Palazzo della Regione.
From 2011 to 2013, Lecco entered the scene for the first time, hosting the finish for three consecutive years. It crowned Oliver Zaugg in one of the most unexpected victories in the race’s history before Joaquim “Purito” Rodríguez claimed back-to-back triumphs. These were years of Italian dominance, with home riders winning eight consecutive editions between 2001 and 2008. Michele Bartoli completed a memorable double in 2002 and 2003, while Paolo Bettini repeated the feat in 2005 and 2006, claiming his second victory wearing the rainbow jersey just days after the tragic loss of his brother Sauro. Damiano Cunego also secured three victories (2004, 2007 and 2008), becoming the penultimate Italian to win the Race of the Falling Leaves before Vincenzo Nibali added his name to the roll of honour a few years later. The era also featured another memorable double, as Philippe Gilbert triumphed in both 2009 and 2010.
hall of fame
The year 2004 was Damiano Cunego’s annus mirabilis. Despite being only 23 years old, he arrived at Il Lombardia with 12 victories already to his name, including the overall triumph at the Giro d’Italia. His debut in the season’s final Monument could hardly have gone any better, as he sprinted to victory in Como ahead of Michael Boogerd and Ivan Basso, who had managed to drop him on the San Fermo climb before being caught again on the descent. “Basso really made me suffer. It was a great duel. But I couldn’t have finished the season in a better way,” said Cunego, whose victory also secured him the top spot in the UCI rankings at the end of the year. Over time, Il Lombardia proved to be his favourite race, as he went on to win it three times – matching Gino Bartali and Costante Girardengo, and surpassing legends such as Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, Francesco Moser and Bernard Hinault. The “Little Prince” claimed his second victory in 2007 defeating Riccardo Riccò in a two-man sprint, before completing his hat-trick in 2008, dropping all his rivals on the Civiglio climb and extending his advantage on the descent to victory.
Vittorie
3
Partecipazioni
15
