We take a closer look at the final monument of the season with a huge prize up for grabs in Italy.
Preview of the 108th edition
With the season almost at an end, Il Lombardia gives riders their final chance to bag a big one-day victory. The Italian race - formerly known as the Giro di Lombardia or Tour of Lombardy - takes in some of the most beautiful roads in Italy, including a stunning run along Lake Como. The weather is not always kind and the frequently wet weather can turn this late-season Classic into a war of attrition. The race organisers have continued to alter the parcours in recent years, and despite using the same course for the previous two editions, the peloton will tackle a radically-changed route, effectively reversed for 2014 to begin in Como. The course is longer than last year at 254 kilometres, further adding to the characteristics that mark out the ‘Race of the Falling Leaves’ as one of the most testing one-day races on the WorldTour calendar. Team Sky will line up with a strong squad in Como, with Kanstantsin Siutsou still recovering from a crash during Wednesday's Milano-Torino. If the Belarusian is unable to take the start he will be replaced by Salvatore Puccio.Route
The riders roll out of Como and begin the largely flat run towards the first climb of the day, the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo, which has been used at the end of the race in previous years but has been shifted to the front this time around. The next real test is the Colle Gallo, a 7.4km climb with a maximum gradient of 10%, but it is on the following ascent of Passo di Ganda where the first major selections could be made. The climb arrives with 189km already in the legs and lasts a sapping 9.2km, averaging 7.3% in gradient and reaching a punishing maximum of 15%.
The short Bracca ramp will disrupt the descent off the Ganda, before the bunch hit the Berbenno. This ascent is far from the longest on the route, at 5.5km, but the fact it maxes out at 10% may see the group of contenders whittled down even further.
The race will then reach its crux on the ascent of Bergamo Alta, which, although short, is perfect for attacks and is almost certain to see a lone attacker or small elite group go clear. From the summit, there is only 3.4km of downhill left to the finish.
Team Sky history
2012 was a standout year for Team Sky with Rigoberto Uran capturing third spot in the pouring rain. Sergio Henao backed up that strong performance with fifth place in the same race.
TV coverage: Live on Eurosport from 1400 with highlights on Sky Sports 4 at 2130.