BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

Giro di Lombardia, Italy

15 October, 246K

Race Of The Falling Leaves

Overall Map, Profile
Startlist
Photos
Report and Results

This year will mark 100 years since the first Giro di Lombardia. The first edition took place on 12 November 1905, and this year's race will be 15 October. This is the 99th edition of the 'race of the falling leaves' (or 'Classica delle foglie morte' in Italiano), there was a stop of the race during the 2nd World War.

The route of the 99th Giro di Lombardia, like last year, will start in Mendrisio Switzerland and finish in Como Italy. Almost all of the 246K are completely in the Lombardia region. From Mendrisio the riders will head towards Lake Como, traveling up and around the lake, a little bit of climbing, and down through Lecco. From there the riders will wind their way up to Bellagio before starting the famed ascent of Madonna del Ghisallo. This climb will crack all but a few of the riders, leaving the strong to fight out the final 45K. Along the way there are the final two smaller climbs: Civiglio (15.7K) and San Fermo della Battaglia (5.7K to go). Expect a someone launch a solo bid on San Fermo, it is short, steep and not that far from the finish in Como. (See the Profile)

Last year it was an epic battle, where Damiano Cunego took victory over Ivan Basso. This year Basso has already put a stop to his season, leaving the focus on other top riders. Likely challengers to Cunego will be Paolo Bettini (winner of Züri Metzgete), Mirko Celestino (1999 winner), Danilo Di Luca (2001 winner and 2005 ProTour winner), Sylvain Chavanel, Chris Horner or Alejandro Valverde (2nd in Worlds). Everyone will be wanting to make their stamp on the final big hurrah of the season, especially if they are without contract for 2006.

Recent Winners:
2004 Damiano Cunego (Ita)
2003 Michele Bartoli (Ita)
2002 Michele Bartoli (Ita)
2001 Danilo Di Luca (Ita)
2000 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu)
1999 Mirko Celestino (Ita)
1998 Oscar Camenzind (Swi)
1997 Laurent Jalabert (Fra)
1996 Andrea Tafi (Ita)
1995 Gianni Faresin (Ita)
1994 Vladislav Bobrik (Rus)
1993 Pascal Richard (Swi)
1992 Tony Rominger (Swi)
1991 Sean Kelly (Ire)
1990 Gilles Delion (Fra)
1989 Tony Rominger (Swi)
1988 Charly Mottet (Fra)
1987 Moreno Argentin (Ita)
1986 Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita)
1985 Sean Kelly (Ire)
1984 Bernard Hinault (Fra)
1983 Sean Kelly (Ire)
1982 Giuseppe Saronni (Ita)
1981 Hennie Kuiper (Ned)
1980 Alfons de Wolf (Bel)