Il Lombardia 2015 - **SPOILERS**
The Titan of the Fall is upon us - Eccolo, il gigante d'autunno.
245km from Bergamo to Como on Sunday 4th October 2015. Not sure if we normally have a spoiler thread for Il Lombardia - but as I was reading about it during my breaks today I thought I might as well create one.
245km of beautiful scenery and history - sorry about the crap map but it is the best road book has.
And the designer seemed to think that a 3d effect made the profile easier to read - there are probably better available but this is the official one
And you gotta love climbs like this
At under 2km long you understand its punch when you realise Purito Rodriguez's record is 9 mins 2 seconds and it is just after the pretty nasty Madonna del Ghisallo. It might be a flat finish but I cannot see there being any sprinters left as the last 75km is pretty much entirely very up or very down.
The teams have been confirmed but I cannot find a starters roster yet
ALM AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)
AND ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI - SIDERMEC (ITA)
AST ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
BAR BARDIANI CSF (ITA)
BMC BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
BOA BORA-ARGON 18 (GER)
CCC CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE (POL)
COL COLOMBIA (COL)
EQS ETIXX - QUICK STEP (BEL)
FDJ FDJ (FRA)
IAM IAM CYCLING (SUI)
LAM LAMPRE - MERIDA (ITA)
LTS LOTTO SOUDAL (BEL)
MOV MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)
NIP NIPPO - VINI FANTINI (ITA)
OGE ORICA GreenEDGE (AUS)
STH SOUTHEAST (ITA)
TCG TEAM CANNONDALE – GARMIN (USA)
TGA TEAM GIANT - ALPECIN (GER)
KAT TEAM KATUSHA (RUS)
TLJ TEAM LOTTO NL - JUMBO (NED)
SKY TEAM SKY (GBR)
TCS TINKOFF - SAXO (RUS)
TFR TREK FACTORY RACING (USA)
UHC UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM (USA
245km from Bergamo to Como on Sunday 4th October 2015. Not sure if we normally have a spoiler thread for Il Lombardia - but as I was reading about it during my breaks today I thought I might as well create one.
245km of beautiful scenery and history - sorry about the crap map but it is the best road book has.
And the designer seemed to think that a 3d effect made the profile easier to read - there are probably better available but this is the official one
And you gotta love climbs like this
At under 2km long you understand its punch when you realise Purito Rodriguez's record is 9 mins 2 seconds and it is just after the pretty nasty Madonna del Ghisallo. It might be a flat finish but I cannot see there being any sprinters left as the last 75km is pretty much entirely very up or very down.
The teams have been confirmed but I cannot find a starters roster yet
ALM AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)
AND ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI - SIDERMEC (ITA)
AST ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
BAR BARDIANI CSF (ITA)
BMC BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
BOA BORA-ARGON 18 (GER)
CCC CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE (POL)
COL COLOMBIA (COL)
EQS ETIXX - QUICK STEP (BEL)
FDJ FDJ (FRA)
IAM IAM CYCLING (SUI)
LAM LAMPRE - MERIDA (ITA)
LTS LOTTO SOUDAL (BEL)
MOV MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)
NIP NIPPO - VINI FANTINI (ITA)
OGE ORICA GreenEDGE (AUS)
STH SOUTHEAST (ITA)
TCG TEAM CANNONDALE – GARMIN (USA)
TGA TEAM GIANT - ALPECIN (GER)
KAT TEAM KATUSHA (RUS)
TLJ TEAM LOTTO NL - JUMBO (NED)
SKY TEAM SKY (GBR)
TCS TINKOFF - SAXO (RUS)
TFR TREK FACTORY RACING (USA)
UHC UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM (USA
0
Comments
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Best race of the year! C'mon Purito...
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Will this be live on Eurosport in the UK? I seem to recall that in previous years it hasn't been...? :?0
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That great picture reminded me I wanted to look up the forecast for the weather. Not sure they can agree yet how much rain there will be
wundergorund
Sunday 90 % Precip. / 24 mm
Cloudy with periods of rain. High around 15C. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near 25mm.
accuweather
Occasional rain
Max UV Index: 1 (Low)
Thunderstorms: 24%
Precipitation: 6 mm
Rain: 6 mm
Snow: 0 CM
Ice: 0 mm
Hours of Precipitation: 3.5 hrs
Hours of Rain: 3.5 hrs0 -
Hoping for a Gilbert win. Dan martin to salvage a terrible season?0
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2.30 Eurosport 1Will this be live on Eurosport in the UK? I seem to recall that in previous years it hasn't been...? :?Twitter: @RichN950 -
Will this be live on Eurosport in the UK? I seem to recall that in previous years it hasn't been...? :?
It's on the Eurosport UK schedule. 1430: Live Cycling: Tour of Lombardy, with a 90 min catch up at 1845.
Actually there's cycling on all afternoon starting with the Voxwomen Cycling show at 1130, Tour de l'Eurometropole stage 4 live at 1200 and 30 mins of highlights from the Tour of Almaty at 1400, then Lombardy0 -
That great picture reminded me I wanted to look up the forecast for the weather. Not sure they can agree yet how much rain there will be
wundergorund
Sunday 90 % Precip. / 24 mm
Cloudy with periods of rain. High around 15C. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near 25mm.
accuweather
Occasional rain
Max UV Index: 1 (Low)
Thunderstorms: 24%
Precipitation: 6 mm
Rain: 6 mm
Snow: 0 CM
Ice: 0 mm
Hours of Precipitation: 3.5 hrs
Hours of Rain: 3.5 hrs
Like every other year....0 -
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Odds on how chipper this year's start list will be?
Seems a fair few have been pulling the plug on their season even earlier than usual this year...
(mind you, I always think that)0 -
Also this week, a further 3 HC races in Italy:-
Today: Tre Valli Varesine. Live coverage from Rai, this afternoon. A very animated race, lots if attacks.
In the end, Nibali Robobasso'd away ftw, from Pinot and co on the final drag, after a Fabio Aru lead out.
Tomorrow: Milan-Turin. Live coverage from 2pm on Eurosport.
9 WT teams including a very strong Sky line up. Boswell, both Henaos, Nieve, Konig, Poels, the new world TT champ and...................Richie Porte
Friday: Giro del Piemonte. Highlights only on Rai. Same 9WT teams. Team Sky add Kennaugh and young Alex Peters, while resting Henao the elder Poels and Nieve.
3 more Italian semi chippers, post Lombardy."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19714129#p19714129]Richmond Racer 2[/url] wrote:Odds on how chipper this year's start list will be?
Seems a fair few have been pulling the plug on their season even earlier than usual this year...
(mind you, I always think that)
(That's because it's true. Lombardi = semi chipper)0 -
Will this be live on Eurosport in the UK? I seem to recall that in previous years it hasn't been...? :?
IIRC coverage has been curtailed by weather issues“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
It's on the Eurosport UK schedule. 1430: Live Cycling: Tour of Lombardy, with a 90 min catch up at 1845.
Thanks chaps2.30 Eurosport 10 -
Love this race, nearly as good as Paris-Tours. Especially in the rain.0
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Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
Nibali has been showing everyone how strong he is for the past fortnight, so expect everyone else to mark his every move. The finish should suit him, with the San Fermo climb perfect for a late attack and then a fast but fairly twisty descent to the finish.0 -
Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.0 -
Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Multiple wins from Coppi, Bartali, Kelly, Merkx, Hinault, Moser, De Vlaeminck, Pip and Purito... oh and Cunego...0 -
Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.
I agree with you. It's one of the anachronisms of the cycling calendar. Ideally it would be placed in amongst Fleche, Amstel and LBL. I think the Worlds should act as the season end (as far as World Tour events are concerned - the TTT the finale to the team competition)Twitter: @RichN950 -
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.
I agree with you. It's one of the anachronisms of the cycling calendar. Ideally it would be placed in amongst Fleche, Amstel and LBL. I think the Worlds should act as the season end (as far as World Tour events are concerned - the TTT the finale to the team competition)
"The Race of the Budding Leaves"
nah0 -
Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.
I agree with you. It's one of the anachronisms of the cycling calendar. Ideally it would be placed in amongst Fleche, Amstel and LBL. I think the Worlds should act as the season end (as far as World Tour events are concerned - the TTT the finale to the team competition)
Put it in the spring and you miss out on the charm of the fallen leaves etc... plus it would devalue it... I already think that Fleche, Amstel and LBL are too close together and end up feeling a bit samey.
And honestly, which rider bases his season around LBL?0 -
No-one bases their season around LBL. Just as no-one bases their season around Lombardy. But riders do focus on the Pais Vasco-Amstel-Fleche-LBL block. By contrast, move Het Volk to September and no-one is turning up. The cobbled classics, from Het Volk to Paris-Roubaix, are also 'a bit samey'.
Put it in the spring and you miss out on the charm of the fallen leaves etc... plus it would devalue it... I already think that Fleche, Amstel and LBL are too close together and end up feeling a bit samey.
And honestly, which rider bases his season around LBL?
And the charm of the fallen leaves is often replaced by the reality of the crap TV reception.
(no difference in April admittedly).Twitter: @RichN950 -
Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.
The riders who base their season around the early Spring monuments do so because they aren't capable of winning any of the the big races that follow.
Riders who are capable of winning LBL and Lombardia are those also capable of winning GTs etc, so don't have the luxury of focusing upon a couple of weeks in Spring.
Ergo, your point is poo."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
So maybe they should move Lombardy to the same time frame as LBL to make it worthwile for those GC riders?[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19714339#p19714339]Blazing Saddles[/url] wrote:Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.
The riders who base their season around the early Spring monuments do so because they aren't capable of winning any of the the big races that follow.
Riders who are capable of winning LBL and Lombardia are those also capable of winning GTs etc, so don't have the luxury of focusing upon a couple of weeks in Spring.
Ergo, your point is poo.Twitter: @RichN950 -
So maybe they should move Lombardy to the same time frame as LBL to make it worthwile for those GC riders?[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19714339#p19714339]Blazing Saddles[/url] wrote:Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.
The riders who base their season around the early Spring monuments do so because they aren't capable of winning any of the the big races that follow.
Riders who are capable of winning LBL and Lombardia are those also capable of winning GTs etc, so don't have the luxury of focusing upon a couple of weeks in Spring.
Ergo, your point is poo.
or you have it at the end of the three GTs to see who still has the legs...0 -
That's what the Worlds are for. A big event to finish it off.
or you have it at the end of the three GTs to see who still has the legs...Twitter: @RichN950 -
That's what the Worlds are for. A big event to finish it off.
or you have it at the end of the three GTs to see who still has the legs...
But the Worlds don't suit a GT rider every year. It's random mix of courses - a climber one year a sprinter the next...
Lombardy is a pretty standard hilly course designed for the GT rider/climber to cap the season off... that Contador and Froome don't rock up just shows what lightweights they are
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How many GT riders turn up for Lombardy though? Compared to LBL. The likes of Rodriguez and Valverde turn up because they might as well after the Worlds. They're almost always at the Worlds.
But the Worlds don't suit a GT rider every year. It's random mix of courses - a climber one year a sprinter the next...
Lombardy is a pretty standard hilly course designed for the GT rider/climber to cap the season off... that Contador and Froome don't rock up just shows what lightweights they are
Why not have the Italian GT/climber classic at a time when those riders are fully involved anyway.Twitter: @RichN950 -
Best race of the year. Definitely the most scenic of the monuments (although that's not difficult).
If it is, as Mr Chasey contests, a semi-chipper, it has a list of winners that most races would be proud of.
.
It's only a recent thing...!
Wrong time of year.
No rider will base his season around this race. Ergo, it's not at the same level as the other 4 monuments.
I agree with you. It's one of the anachronisms of the cycling calendar. Ideally it would be placed in amongst Fleche, Amstel and LBL. I think the Worlds should act as the season end (as far as World Tour events are concerned - the TTT the finale to the team competition)
Put it in the spring and you miss out on the charm of the fallen leaves etc... plus it would devalue it... I already think that Fleche, Amstel and LBL are too close together and end up feeling a bit samey.
And honestly, which rider bases his season around LBL?
Given the usual weather in Lombardia at the beginning of Oct, its now the Race of the Rain-Sodden Leaves anyway0 -
You'll find that race org twitter have been calling them dead leaves...
Provisional starts this year in addition to Purito and Valverde are Pozzovivo, Bardet, Nibali, Pinot, Barguil, Dumoulin, Majka, Mollema, Zubeldia, Schleck, Poels...
TBH doesn't look much different to LBL0 -
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