Il Lombardia 2023 **spoilers**

andyp
andyp Posts: 10,547
A monument deserves a thread of it's own, no?

Route is from Como to Bergamo, with five major climbs, the last being the Passo di Ganda which tops out at 32 kms to go. The final challenge is the short ascent to Bergamo Alto before the fast descent down into central Bergamo for the finish.



Preview from @inrng here.

Pre-race favourites are Pogacar and Roglic, with the former seeking to be the first rider to win three editions in a row since Fausto Coppi.
«134

Comments

  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Current race situation has a group of sixteen riders just over four minutes clear of the bunch. Notable escapees include Ben Swift, Simon Geksche, Nicola Conci, Matteo Bais and Thomas de Gendt.

    The Roncola climb, probably the hardest single ascent in the race, is the next climb.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,649
    Worth noting that Remco was also a favourite, though an early crash may have dented his hopes slightly
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Gap closed by a minute on the Roncola.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Nils Brun of Tudor Pro Cycling has attacked the breakaway and has an advantage of 20 seconds or so.

    Personally, I'd sit up and wait for the rest of them.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Lots of punctures, suddenly. Ganna, Gebreigzabhier and Ben Swift, who's now out of the break and chasing back on.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Sivakov was off the back too, not sure if he punctured or not.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Onto the Berbenno, and Soudal Quick-Step take it up with Vansevenant.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    They've really strung it out and look like they've caught a lot of favourites out of position.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,649
    Still wondering quite why EF did so much early work
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Mas back at the team car. Not sure if he's been dropped or not.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Ben Swift gets back to the break.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Mas definitely not on a good day, hanging off the back with Simone Pellaud.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    SQS seem to have decided it was too early to keep the pressure on, so now EF and Jumbo-Visma are pace setting. Gap to the break has gone back out by over a minute to 2:30.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    EF launch Healy, who covers an attack by Oscar Onley. They have a small gap, maybe 15 seconds.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    The break is starting to disintegrate - De Gendt gone, and now Brun goes out the back.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Lots of movement on this climb. Valter covers a move by Ulissi, and van Wilder goes across to it.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Break down to seven riders.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Sivakov at the back of the peloton, not looking good.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Now Formolo is dropped.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Onley and Healy are going to make it across to the break imminently, they have approx 30 seconds over the peloton.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    And they make it. 43 seconds over the peloton.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Gap out to over a minute and Healy doing most of the work. Almost at the summit of the Zambla Alta climb.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Every time the director switches back to the peloton, it's Tratnik on the front. He's done a huge turn.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Big crash in the peloton, Carapaz, Landa, Woods and Chaves down.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Looks like the end of Landa's race.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Nope, I was wrong, he's back and riding.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Healy and one of the Bardiani riders are dropping the other three (Onley, Prudhomme and Bardiani 2) on this descent.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    Marcellusi is the Bardiani rider in the front.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    It wasn't Woods in the crash, but Fuglsang. Thought he'd retired.