“A podium would be amazing” – Pidcock and Healy target strong result at Il Lombardia

On a beautiful autumn morning in Como, the chatter before Il Lombardia carried a mix of curiosity, ambition, and quiet nerves. For some, like Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, the race is about history and legacy. For others, like Tom Pidcock and Ben Healy, it’s about discovery and the search for belonging among the sport’s toughest climbers. Both Pidcock and Healy have proven themselves throughout 2025, and will be hoping to end the season on a high. The final Monument of the season always feels different, part farewell, part test, and, for a few, a glimpse of what might come next.

Tom Pidcock, making his debut at Il Lombardia, smiled as he admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect. “No, no, I think today is the main focus. Tomorrow we’ll see,” he said to Cycling Pro net, when asked if this race was preparation for the gravel world championships he is taking part in tomorrow. It’s rare to hear a rider sound so honest before tackling one of cycling’s most brutal classics.

“I don’t know to be honest. That’s the nice thing about the first time. I hope I have good legs. I think I did a good training day after Tre Valli on the climbs. I felt pretty good. I hope I have good climbing legs like the Vuelta, but yeah, we’ll see.”

For Pidcock, this isn’t just another race, it’s a step deeper into the world of the pure climbers, where every turn and descent around Lake Como can make or break a career-defining result. Pidcock came third at the Vuelta a Espana last month, only behind Jonas Vingegaard and Joao Almeida, and has finally proven himself as a genuine GC rider.

He reconned the final of today’s race earlier in the week, joking about forgetting which day it was. “Yeah, we did it on Tuesday… Wednesday… whatever day,” he laughed. “Yeah, I think so. It’s a nice race. We did a pretty long ride and it went by fast. So, yeah, I think in a race it’s going to go even faster.”

Ben Healy, meanwhile, knows exactly what awaits him. This will be his third appearance at Il Lombardia, and after a breakthrough season that included a podium at the World Championships in Rwanda and winning a Tour de France stage, he comes with quiet confidence. “Yeah, it’s a super hard race, technical one as well,” he said to the cameras of Cycling Pro Net. “So, yeah, for sure the strongest rider wins, I think.”

Asked if he could be that rider, Healy smiled. “I mean, there’s a certain Tadej here, but yeah, I mean, we all start the race to try and win.” His words summed up the shared mindset of the peloton, realistic against the might of Pogacar, but still fiercely competitive.

Healy reflected on past struggles and the hope for something better this time before locking down for the winter months. “Yeah, I mean last year I didn’t have the best legs in the world, so yeah, it wasn’t too enjoyable for me. And yeah, two years ago was a bit better. So yeah, maybe this way is better for me.” Coming off strong form, he added, “Yeah, I mean you don’t lose the form that quickly and I felt good on Tuesday. So yeah, I mean you never know, today a podium would be amazing.”

As for tactics, Healy kept it simple. “Yeah, you know, I think Ganda’s such a hard climb with a hard valley before and yeah, we have me and Richie here. So, I think we just have to wait for this.”