Sky Sports Channel Logo

Cycling News

Home

  • Live on Sky
  • Video
  • Get Sky Sports
  • Sky Bet

Il Lombardia preview: Alejandro Valverde favourite for victory

By Matt Westby

Last Updated: 03/10/15 3:58pm

Il Lombardia is the last of the season's five Monument classics
Il Lombardia is the last of the season's five Monument classics

A selection of the world’s best climbers will descend on northern Italy on Sunday for the fifth and final one-day Monument classic of the season, Il Lombardia.

Set to be held for the 109th time, the "Race of the Falling Leaves" is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar and was won in 2014 by Ireland's Dan Martin.

Here is everything you need to know about this year's edition…

The route

The 245km route contains six climbs, including four in the final 80km. The Colle Gallo and Colle Brianza come too early to have a direct impact on the outcome, but when the riders hit the legendary Madonna del Ghisallo at the side of Lake Como, the race should come to life.

The peloton may well stay as one over the Ghisallo, but it is almost certain to be blown to pieces by the brutally steep Muro Di Sormano, which race organisers say has a maximum gradient of 25-27 per cent.

A 13km descent down the other side should see the riders who fared best up the Sormano come together as an elite group who then go on to battle for victory over the final two climbs.

The ascent to Civiglio is the key climb and those with good legs will no doubt hope to escape here and then hold on over the climb to San Fermo Della Battaglia and subsequent descent to the finish in Como.

The past five editions have all ended with a solo winner, although Martin escaped to victory last year on a flat section just before the finish as the rest of the lead group prepared for a sprint.

WHEN IS IT?

Start time: 9.25am BST.

Estimated finish time: 4.15pm BST.

THE FAVOURITES

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE

Alejandro Valverde is the bookmakers' favourite for victory
Alejandro Valverde is the bookmakers' favourite for victory

Age: 35. Team: Movistar. Sky Bet odds: 4/1.

The world's No 1-ranked rider has never won Il Lombardia but was second in each of the past two years and will be determined to fill what remains a glaring omission from his cycling CV this weekend. He is a punchy climber capable of winning with a solo attack, but he also has a fast finish should the race come down to a sprint.

VINCENZO NIBALI

Vincenzo Nibali goes into Il Lombardia in good form
Vincenzo Nibali goes into Il Lombardia in good form

Age: 30. Team: Astana. Sky Bet odds: 9/2.

Nibali has a poor record at Il Lombardia - a fifth place in 2010 being the only time he has threatened the podium - but he comes into this year's race in good form, having won two one-day races in Italy in the past few weeks and finished in the top five in another three. He will also be motivated by the knowledge that a win on Sunday would partly salvage what has been an otherwise poor season.

DAN MARTIN

Dan Martin returns as the defending champion
Dan Martin returns as the defending champion

Age: 29. Team: Cannondale-Garmin. Sky Bet odds: 16/1.

Martin doesn't go into Il Lombardia with particularly outstanding form, but he will be buoyed by the fact that since the turn of the century, no fewer than five winners of the race have successfully defended their titles the following season. Martin is a punchy climber who specialises in hilly one-day classics.

FABIO ARU

Fabio Aru has retained his good form from the Vuelta a Espana
Fabio Aru has retained his good form from the Vuelta a Espana

Age: 25. Team: Astana. Sky Bet odds: 18/1.

Having won the Vuelta a Espana last month, Aru could have been forgiven for coasting his way through the remainder of the season, but a third-placed finish at Milano-Torino - Il Lombardia's main warm-up race - on Thursday showed he has retained his excellent form and should be a threat. A ferocious climber, Aru finished ninth last year to prove he has the attributes to challenge for victory.

THE OUTSIDERS

TIM WELLENS

Tim Wellens finished fourth in Il Lombardia last year
Tim Wellens finished fourth in Il Lombardia last year

Age: 24. Team: Lotto Soudal. Sky Bet odds: 18/1.

Wellens finished fourth in last year's race and comes into the 2015 edition in fine form, having won the GP de Montreal three weeks ago. He is one of the most exciting young talents in cycling and a big, breakthrough win doesn't appear too far away.

RUI COSTA

Rui Costa finished ninth in the World Championship road race last week
Rui Costa finished ninth in the World Championship road race last week

Age: 28. Team: Lampre-Merida. Sky Bet odds: 18/1.

Costa finished third last year and has decent form after finishing third in the GP de Montreal and then ninth in last Sunday's World Championship road race. He is a specialist in courses with late climbs and then descents to the finish.

PHILIPPE GILBERT

Philippe Gilbert won Il Lombardia in 2009 and 2010
Philippe Gilbert won Il Lombardia in 2009 and 2010

Age: 33. Team: BMC Racing. Sky Bet odds: 20/1.

Like Rodriguez, Gilbert is a former back-to-back winner of Il Lombardia following triumphs in 2009 and 2010. He goes into the race on the back of a strong late-summer/early-autumn so far, having finished second at the Clasica San Sebastian and recorded top 10s in each of the GP de Quebec, GP de Montreal and last Sunday's World Championship road race.

RAFAL MAJKA

Rafal Majka finished second at Milano-Torino on Thursday
Rafal Majka finished second at Milano-Torino on Thursday

Age: 26. Team: Tinkoff-Saxo. Sky Bet odds: 33/1.

Similar to Aru, Majka has managed to retain the form that propelled him to third overall at the Vuelta and proved as much by finishing second in Thursday's Milano-Torino. He doesn't have the electric accelerations of a rider like Rodriguez, but he should be one of the strongest climbers in the field.

ADAM YATES

Adam Yates won the Clasica San Sebastian in August
Adam Yates won the Clasica San Sebastian in August

Age: 22. Team: Orica-GreenEdge. Sky Bet odds: 40/1.

Although not one of the favourites, the big names in the peloton have seen enough of Yates this season to know that he is one young rider who they cannot afford to give an inch to. An excellent climber, he won the Clasica San Sebastian solo in August and then finished second to Wellens in a two-man sprint at the GP de Montreal, so he has both form and confidence in abundance.

THE BRITONS

Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge).

Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge).

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2014: Dan Martin (Irl).

2013: Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp).

2012: Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp).

2011: Oliver Zaugg (Sui).

2010: Philippe Gilbert (Bel).

2009: Philippe Gilbert (Bel).

2008: Damiano Cunego (Ita).

2007: Damiano Cunego (Ita).

2006: Paolo Bettini (Ita).

2005: Paolo Bettini (Ita).

Trending

  • 1
    Transfer Centre: Caicedo, Porro, McKennie latest
  • 2
    Arsenal's fresh £70m Caicedo bid rejected by Brighton
  • 3
    Papers: Barca want Chelsea loanee Felix | Man Utd receive 10 Elanga loan offers
  • 4
    NFL playoffs: Bengals-Chiefs all tied in fourth quarter of thriller LIVE!
  • 5
    Gordon seals £45m Newcastle move | Tells Everton fans 'stick by the team'
  • 6
    Chelsea not giving up on Fernandez deal before Tuesday's deadline
  • 7
    FA Cup hits and misses: Liverpool are already falling apart
  • 8
    Robertson: We let the fans down | Klopp: We will not fall apart
  • 9
    Casemiro on life at Man Utd: I'm enjoying every moment like a 15-year-old
  • 10
    Arsenal transfer rumours: Gunners still want two midfielders
  • Video
  • Latest News

Around Sky Sports

Sky Sports

Get Sky Sports

Your sport. Your Way.

NOW

Stream on NOW

Live stream Sky Sports with a NOW Sports Membership

Competitions win prizes

Win Win Win

Win in our free to enter competitions section

  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Sky Zero
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

Sky Sports Channel Logo ©2023 Sky UK