Il Lombardia 2015, Oct 4th

[Eshnar]

Finally... finally... a Lombardia with a good route, after 4 years *sniff*

 

[ice&fire]

First 170kms are a bit meh, but the last 80kms are as good as they can do. Are they doing Colma di Sormano over the muro?

 

[Velolover2]

Nibali wants to save his season. This could be his chance.

It kinda looks like a brutal version of Milano-Sanremo.

 

[Eshnar]

First 170kms are a bit meh, but the last 80kms are as good as they can do. Are they doing Colma di Sormano over the muro?

It's the Muro. Yes they are

 

[GP Blanco]

Happy to see the Madonna del Ghisallo, Lombardia isn't Lombardia without the bells of the Madonna. Now they just need to swap dates with Paris Tours.

 

[Billie]

Much better

 

[King Boonen]

The Muro di Sormano! This should be brilliant

 

[BigMac]

More like it 'could be brilliant'. Last time they went up the muro nothing really happened.

edit: I see it's much closer to the finish this time, nice!

 

[portugal11]

sagan ftw

 

[OlavEH]

Finally, Civiglio is back. First time since 2009?

This is a huge improvement compared to the last years, and especially the editions that finished in Lecco.

Anyone who knows from which side they are doing Civiglio?

 

[Eshnar]

Re:

Finally, Civiglio is back. First time since 2009?

This is a huge improvement compared to the last years, and especially the editions that finished in Lecco.

Anyone who knows from which side they are doing Civiglio?

http://www.salite.ch/civiglio.asp?Mappa=
Edit: maybe not... not sure.

 

[Nirvana]

First 170kms are a bit meh, but the last 80kms are as good as they can do. Are they doing Colma di Sormano over the muro?

They miss Valico di Valcava before Colle Brianza...

(this is 2012 route, the best of last years)

 

[Arredondo]

Last year was just horrible. 2012 and 2013 were decent, but this route is much better!

Someone who can climb, is explosive and doesn't ride Worlds to win. Two options

 

[OlavEH]

Re: Re:

Finally, Civiglio is back. First time since 2009?

This is a huge improvement compared to the last years, and especially the editions that finished in Lecco.

Anyone who knows from which side they are doing Civiglio?

http://www.salite.ch/civiglio.asp?Mappa=

Nice! Isn't this the western approach of Civiglio? The opposite side of what they have done earlier?

Edit: Anyway, it can't be the same as in 2008.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/oct08/lombardia08/?id=map

 

[pink_jersey]

Re:

Last year was just horrible. 2012 and 2013 were decent, but this route is much better!

Someone who can climb, is explosive and doesn't ride Worlds to win. Two options

Aru or Dani Moreno? )

 

[KyoGrey]

Wonderful route, with a wide variety of tactical options.

I hope for a Valverde vs Astaná showdown.

 

[Gigs_98]

Hell yeah. Thats exactly the route I wanted. Someone told me the route will be the same as last year so I was already disappointed but thats really great. Nibali to go on the Muro
edit: although it would have been even better with valico di valcava

 

[shalgo]

Obvious Dumoulin win is obvious.

 

[Brullnux]

Awesome route! Attacks hopefully will start 50km from the finish. If only there was a stretch of road that went uphill from Nesso to Como and this route will be 100% epic. Hopefully the Province of Còmo (because apparently the first o is long, like Southern Italians say it) will invest in a new road soon, and make it sterrato just for the lolz

 

[Taxus4a]

Finally... finally... a Lombardia with a good route, after 4 years *sniff*

Very similar route than 2010, when Gilbert won in the rain and Gesink had to left, but this time with Civiglio is much better.

Last years the route was not bad, it was very hard, was it had a mistake, a mistake possible to solve easily:

http://patrimoniociclista.blogspot.com.es/2012/10/un-podio-qui-parla-lo-spagnolo.html

It is explained here at the end, with the profile they did and the improved profile, no so differente that this year, but with very hard climbs alon the route.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Nice route!

Valv talked about his schedule after Vuelta, obviously WC and he said he wasnt 100% sure for Lombardia, but hoping he will participate. It has been dull the last couple of editions, I want to see to see a showdown between the best climbers and one day specialists again - not just on the last climb AGR like

 

[Ricco']

It's obvious that Dan Martin will win.

Look:

2013- Purito
2012- Purito
2011- Zaugg
2010- Gilbert
2009- Gilbert
2008- Cunego
2007- Cunego
2006- Bettini
2005- Bettini
2004- Cunego
2003- Bartoli
2002- Bartoli

Zaugg is the odd one, but it was just strange to see Zaugg win 1 Lombardia, let along 2.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

It's obvious that Dan Martin will win.

Look:

2013- Purito
2012- Purito
2011- Zaugg
2010- Gilbert
2009- Gilbert
2008- Cunego
2007- Cunego
2006- Bettini
2005- Bettini
2004- Cunego
2003- Bartoli
2002- Bartoli

Zaugg is the odd one, but it was just strange to see Zaugg win 1 Lombardia, let along 2.

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

It's obvious that Dan Martin will win.

Look:

2013- Purito
2012- Purito
2011- Zaugg
2010- Gilbert
2009- Gilbert
2008- Cunego
2007- Cunego
2006- Bettini
2005- Bettini
2004- Cunego
2003- Bartoli
2002- Bartoli

Zaugg is the odd one, but it was just strange to see Zaugg win 1 Lombardia, let along 2.

It's an interesting trend. I seem to remember it was 2004 that they returned to Como for the finish but with the Della Battaglia just before the finish? That's enough to make people think twice about a long break just to get caught on the last steep ramp. Combine that with the races position in the calendar in relation to the Worlds and it's not massively surprising to see repeat winners as they are likely to focus on the race next year after winning it once while most people are eyeing up the rainbow stripes. Only Bettini won both in the same year (2006).

 

[trevim]

Good route overall but it could use extra 20km. Monuments should always be 260/270 km, it's an endurance test not a normal race