Il Lombardia 2026 preview, profile, favourites & predictions - Evenepoel, Del Toro, Seixas and Pidcock battle one final time
Cycling
Il Lombardia will take place on the 10th of October 2026. The race is the ultimate culmination of the Italian autumn classics, having the status of fifth and last monument of pro cycling. With Tadej Pogacar absent this year, there will be a new winner after five editions. Below, you will find the preview for the race as well as its favourites and route.
The race was first held in 1905 and carries over 120 years of history, with only World War II causing it to stop briefly in the 1940's. Giovanni Gerbi won its first ever edition, whilst two years later its first non-French winner emerged in Gustave Garrigou.
Alfredo Binda, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Rik van Looy, Tom Simpson, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Roger de Vlaeminck, Francesco Moser, Bernard Hinault and Sean Kelly are part of the extremely rich and historical winners of cycling's final monument of the year.
The race has seen route alterations over the years, with climbers and classics specialists alternatively having courses that suit their abilities - leading to some more palmarès diversity. Paolo Bettini and Philippe Gilbert are some of the last non-climbers to have won it; whilst in the past 15 years the climbers have emerged as the dominant force.
Oliver Zaugg, Joaquím Rodríguez, Dan Martin, Vincenzo Nibali, Esteban Chaves, Thibau Pinot and Bauke Mollema have won it in the 2010's, whilst Jakob Fuglsang was the winner in 2020. Ever since 2021, Tadej Pogacar has won every single edition of Il Lombardia, which has seen him match the record of Fausto Coppi.
Profile: Bergamo - Como
Bergamo - Como, 239 kilometers
As has been for the past few years, a race for the climbers. 239 kilometers on the menu with the race beginning in Bergamo this year and heading to Como for the finale. The race features over 4600 meters of climbing and a profile that leaves little chance for those who are not the top climbers in the race.
The race features quite a lot of long efforts towards its opening hours with Selvino (10.5Km; 5.6%), Colle di Berbenno (4.5Km; 6.3%) and Valpiana (10.4Km; 6.1%) all placed within the first 90 kilometers.
Before the race enters its decisive phase, the inclusion of the climb to Giovezana is also important, with 3.6 kilometers in distance at over 9%. No key attacks are expected at this point in the race, but it is a notable extra effort to be tackled.
The traditional ascent to the Maddonna del Ghisallo followed, with 8.6 kilometers at 5.4% (but maximum gradients well above that). The ascent ends with 60 kilometers to go, and the riders then transition into the final phase of the race.
They climb San Fermo della Battaglia which is 2.8 kilometers long at 6.9%, ending on its first occasion with 27 kilometers to go. Right after the descent comes the climb to Civiglio, which may decide the race.
The ascent is 4.2 kilometers long at 9.7%, ending with 16 kilometers to go. The length, gradient, proximity to the finish and extremely technical descent typically create gaps that are then near-impossible to close. But the race does not end there.
The riders go up San Fermo della Battaglia on one more occasion, finishing it with 5Km to go. From there on, it's smooth sailing as the riders descend back into Como for the finish.
Preview Il Lombardia 2026
Isaac del Toro - The main favourite in my opinion. He continues to be downplayed I feel, despite him having proven on multiple occasions that he is alongside Seixas the best climber in this field. But unlike the World Championships, he now has a team to control matters. UAE had the upper hand at the GP de Montréal and here the same should happen. Brandon McNulty and Adam Yates headline a stack of riders who should act as domestiques, control the race for Del Toro to attack Civiglio. Against any other reasonable rider here, he has the ability to win a sprint.
Paul Seixas - The French rider has an issue with the endurance aspect, which is not great when racing a Lombardia. Decathlon has reasons to try and control the race, but not to push or attack from afar - instead, to control and take it easy as long as possible into Civiglio. The French team have plenty firepower to do this and, if he has his best legs, he can well win this monument - although he will have to do it solo.
Remco Evenepoel - The distance plays into his advantage and the shorter climbs do as well. But does Evenepoel have the climbing legs to win this race? He hasn't shown it unti the Europeans, but even then it was a short climb and only Giulio Ciccone to rival him. Confidence will have been boosted, but it won't be easy to win here under regular conditions this year. He might want to attack the rolling section before the final circuit, or otherwise try to survive attacks and bet on a sprint.
Remco Evenepoel will be racing for the first time in his European champion's jersey
Tom Pidcock - He will be able to ride the wheels this time around as several teams should want to control the race. The climbs may not be too difficult for him whilst this year he has been fantastic in long races, whilst his downhill skills on Civiglio might earn him a win in either an attacking or defending scenario. A serious threat.
Visma - The Dutch team are big threats, but not traditional ones. They won the Giro dell'Emilia with the tactic they should deploy this Saturday. Ben Tulett but specially Matteo Jorgenson should attack that rolling section after the Madonna del Ghisallo, whilst Davide Piganzoli has the pure climbing legs to realistically battle for a podium here, specially on terrain he knows very well.
Giulio Ciccone - Leading Lidl-Trek, the Italian will want to end on a high, and has the form to do so. Canada, Worlds, Europeans... His consistency has been incredibly and so has his form. He has everything to win a high-level classic, but somehow the pieces haven't fit in place. Winning will be hard here head-to-head against the same rivals, but he packs a good sprint and Lidl-Trek have Quinn Simmons to play earlier on who can be a massive threat for the win. The presence of Bauke Mollema and Andrea Bagioli, two riders who have had career-best results on this very race, is promising.
Nettcompany INEOS will back Oscar Onley and Thymen Arensman up for the mountains. Tobias Johannessen and last year's podium finisher Michael Storer are also big threats for a top position. Lotto also begin with Tre Valli Varesine winner Jarno Widar and Lennert van Eetvelt, who might surprise.
EF have Ben Healy as a major threat for an early attack, and Alex Baudin present. Enric Mas, Vuelta winner and previous podium finisher here, is also a good card to play, but his form is uncertain heading into the race.
Bahrain - Victorious are also noteworthy, coming in stacked with most of their climbers: Lenny Martínez, Jakob Omrzel, Antonio Tiberi, Santiago Buitrago and Pello Bilbao. Mikel Landa, Clement Berthet, Ramses Debruyne, Michael Matthews, Alessandro Fancellu and Astana trio Lorenzo Fortunato, Christian Scaroni and Harold Tejada are all riders to take into consideration as well.
Prediction Il Lombardia 2026
*** Isaac del Toro, Paul Seixas
** Remco Evenepoel, Giulio Ciccone, Tom Pidcock, Matteo Jorgenson
* Oscar Onley, Michael Storer, Lenny Martínez, Quinn Simmons, Ben Healy, Lennert van Eetvelt, Jarno Widar, Davide Piganzoli, Enric Mas, Ben Tulett, Brandon McNulty
Pick: Isaac del Toro
How: Sprint against Seixas.
Read also
List of winners Il Lombardia
| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2025 | Tadej Pogačar | Remco Evenepoel | Michael Storer |
| 2024 | Tadej Pogačar | Remco Evenepoel | Giulio Ciccone |
| 2023 | Tadej Pogačar | Andrea Bagioli | Primož Roglič |
| 2022 | Tadej Pogačar | Enric Mas | Mikel Landa |
| 2021 | Tadej Pogačar | Fausto Masnada | Adam Yates |
| 2020 | Jakob Fuglsang | George Bennett | Aleksandr Vlasov |
| 2019 | Bauke Mollema | Alejandro Valverde | Egan Bernal |
| 2018 | Thibaut Pinot | Vincenzo Nibali | Dylan Teuns |
| 2017 | Vincenzo Nibali | Julian Alaphilippe | Gianni Moscon |
| 2016 | Esteban Chaves | Diego Rosa | Rigoberto Urán |
| 2015 | Vincenzo Nibali | Moreno Moser | Thibaut Pinot |
| 2014 | Daniel Martin | Alejandro Valverde | Rui Costa |
| 2013 | Joaquim Rodríguez | Alejandro Valverde | Rafał Majka |
| 2012 | Joaquim Rodríguez | Samuel Sánchez | Rigoberto Urán |
| 2011 | Oliver Zaugg | Daniel Martin | Joaquim Rodríguez |
| 2010 | Philippe Gilbert | Michele Scarponi | Pablo Lastras |
| 2009 | Philippe Gilbert | Samuel Sánchez | Alexandr Kolobnev |
| 2008 | Damiano Cunego | Janez Brajkovič | Rigoberto Urán |
| 2007 | Damiano Cunego | Riccardo Riccò | Samuel Sánchez |
| 2006 | Paolo Bettini | Samuel Sánchez | Fabian Wegmann |
| 2005 | Paolo Bettini | Gilberto Simoni | Fränk Schleck |
| 2004 | Damiano Cunego | Michael Boogerd | Ivan Basso |
| 2003 | Michele Bartoli | Luca Paolini | Dario Frigo |
| 2002 | Michele Bartoli | Davide Rebellin | Oscar Camenzind |
| 2001 | Danilo Di Luca | Giuliano Figueras | Michael Boogerd |
| 2000 | Raimondas Rumsas | Francesco Casagrande | Magnus Bäckstedt |
| 1999 | Mirko Celestino | Danilo Di Luca | Eddy Mazzoleni |
| 1998 | Oscar Camenzind | Michael Boogerd | Luca Puttini |
| 1997 | Laurent Jalabert | Alberto Lanfranchi | Francesco Casagrande |
| 1996 | Mauro Tafi | Beat Zberg | Eddy Merckx |
| 1995 | Marco Faresin | Andrea Nardello | Michele Bartoli |
| 1994 | Vladislav Bobrik | Claudio Chiappucci | Pascal Richard |
| 1993 | Pascal Richard | Giorgio Furlan | Mauro Sciandri |
| 1992 | Tony Rominger | Claudio Chiappucci | Davide Cassani |
| 1991 | Sean Kelly | Yvon Gayant | Ballerini |
| 1990 | Gilles Delion | Pascal Richard | Mottet |
| 1989 | Tony Rominger | Gilles Delion | Roosen |
| 1988 | Charly Mottet | Gianni Bugno | Pedro Muñoz |
| 1987 | Moreno Argentin | Eddy Van Lancker | Marc Madiot |
| 1986 | Gianbattista Baronchelli | Sean Kelly | Phil Anderson |
| 1985 | Sean Kelly | Adrie van der Poel | Charly Mottet |
| 1984 | Bernard Hinault | Jan Peeters | Leo van Vliet |
| 1983 | Sean Kelly | Greg LeMond | Adrie van der Poel |
| 1982 | Giuseppe Saronni | Jules | Francesco Moser |
| 1981 | Joop Zoetemelk | Moreno Argentin | Charly Chinetti |
| 1980 | Hennie Kuiper | Charly Chinetti | Jan Peeters |
| 1979 | Bernard Hinault | Silvano Contini | Giovanni Battaglin |
| 1978 | Francesco Moser | Bernt Johansson | Bernard Hinault |
| 1977 | Gianbattista Baronchelli | Patrick Vandenbroucke | Franco Bitossi |
| 1976 | Roger De Vlaeminck | Bernard Thévenet | Francesco Panizza |
| 1975 | Francesco Moser | Luciano Paolini | Charly Chinetti |
| 1974 | Roger De Vlaeminck | Eddy Merckx | Giuseppe Conti |
| 1973 | Felice Gimondi | Roger De Vlaeminck | Walter Godefroot |
| 1972 | Eddy Merckx | Cyrille Guimard | Felice Gimondi |
| 1971 | Eddy Merckx | Franco Bitossi | Walter Verbeeck |
| 1970 | Franco Bitossi | Felice Gimondi | Gianni Motta |
| 1969 | Jean-Pierre Monséré | Walter Godefroot | Franco Bitossi |
| 1968 | Walter Godefroot | Franco Bitossi | Eddy Merckx |
| 1967 | Franco Bitossi | Felice Gimondi | Raymond Poulidor |
| 1966 | Felice Gimondi | Eddy Merckx | Raymond Poulidor |
| 1965 | Tom Simpson | André Noyelle | Jean Stablinski |
| 1964 | Gianni Motta | Mario Preziosi | Jef Hoevenaers |
| 1963 | Jo de Roo | Dino Durante | Michele Dancelli |
| 1962 | Jo de Roo | René Trapé | Aurelio Cerato |
| 1961 | Vito Taccone | Diego Ronchini | Fontona |
| 1960 | Albert Daems | Diego Ronchini | Fontana |
| 1959 | Rik Van Looy | Noël Vannitsen | Miguel Poblet |
| 1958 | Nino Defilippis | Miguel Poblet | André Vlayen |
| 1957 | Diego Ronchini | Nino Monti | Cestari |
| 1956 | André Darrigade | Fausto Coppi | Fiorenzo Magni |
| 1955 | Fiorenzo Magni | Raymond Impanis | Giuseppe Conterno |
| 1954 | Fausto Coppi | Fiorenzo Magni | De Rossi |
| 1953 | Alfredo Landi | Désiré Keteleer | Molineris |
| 1952 | Fiorenzo Magni | Nino Defilippis | Padovan |
| 1951 | Louison Bobet | Fiorenzo Magni | Fausto Coppi |
| 1950 | Oreste Conte | Sergio Bevilacqua | Fausto Coppi |
| 1949 | Fausto Coppi | Ferdi Kübler | Logli |
| 1948 | Fausto Coppi | Giordano Leoni | Ferdi Kübler |
| 1947 | Fausto Coppi | Gino Bartali | Da Zan |
| 1946 | Fausto Coppi | Luigi Casola | Motta |
| 1945 | Mario Ricci | Aldo Bini | Gino Bartali |
| 1942 | Aldo Bini | Gino Bartali | Toccacelli |
| 1941 | Mario Ricci | Cinelli | Canavesi |
| 1940 | Gino Bartali | Cino Cinelli | Mario Ricci |
| 1939 | Gino Bartali | Mario Vicini | Aldo Bini |
| 1938 | Cino Cinelli | Mario Vicini | Aldo Bini |
| 1937 | Gino Bartali | Aldo Bini | Mario Vicini |
| 1936 | Gino Bartali | Aldo Bini | Giuseppe Olmo |
| 1935 | Enrico Mollo | Gino Bartali | Giuseppe Olmo |
| 1934 | Learco Guerra | Gino Bartali | Domenico Piemontesi |
| 1933 | Alfredo Binda | Learco Guerra | Domenico Piemontesi |
| 1932 | Alfredo Binda | Remo Bertoni | Giuseppe Olmo |
| 1931 | Alfredo Binda | Learco Guerra | Domenico Piemontesi |
| 1930 | Michele Mara | Luigi Giacobbe | Learco Guerra |
| 1929 | Alfredo Binda | Antonio Negrini | Domenico Piemontesi |
| 1928 | Gaetano Belloni | Allegro Grandi | Domenico Piemontesi |
| 1927 | Alfredo Binda | Domenico Piemontesi | Antonio Negrini |
| 1926 | Arturo Bresciani | Alfredo Binda | Domenico Piemontesi |
| 1925 | Alfredo Binda | Giovanni Brunero | Giovanni Gerbi |
| 1924 | Giovanni Brunero | Alfredo Binda | Giovanni Gerbi |
| 1923 | Giovanni Brunero | Alfredo Binda | Giovanni Gerbi |
| 1922 | Henri Pélissier | Costante Girardengo | Angelo Gremo |
| 1921 | Costante Girardengo | Henri Pélissier | Giovanni Gerbi |
| 1920 | Henri Pélissier | Costante Girardengo | Giovanni Gerbi |
| 1919 | Costante Girardengo | Angelo Gremo | Giovanni Rossignoli |
| 1918 | Gaetano Belloni | Costante Girardengo | Angelo Gremo |
| 1917 | Philippe Thys | Henri Pelissier | Leopoldo Toricelli |
| 1916 | Leopoldo Toricelli | Camillo Bertarelli | Alfredo Sivocci |
| 1915 | Gaetano Belloni | Giovanni Gerbi | Angelo Gremo |
| 1914 | Henri Pélissier | Giovanni Gerbi | Angelo Gremo |
| 1913 | Henri Pélissier | Giovanni Gerbi | Carlo Oriani |
| 1912 | Giovanni Michelotto | Carlo Oriani | Angelo Gremo |
| 1911 | Giovanni Michelotto | Carlo Oriani | Giovanni Gerbi |
| 1910 | Henri Pélissier | Giovanni Rossignoli | Angelo Gremo |
| 1909 | Giovanni Rossignoli | Giovanni Gerbi | Carlo Oriani |
| 1908 | Giovanni Gerbi | Luigi Ganna | Giovanni Rossignoli |
| 1907 | Gustave Garrigou | Giovanni Gerbi | Luigi Ganna |
| 1906 | Giovanni Gerbi | Luigi Ganna | Giovanni Rossignoli |
| 1905 | Giovanni Gerbi | Luigi Ganna | Giovanni Rossignoli |
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- lol maybe a better questionmij09-10-2026
- Does Ineos?Mistermaumau09-10-2026
- ThanksMistermaumau09-10-2026
- It depends on your religion or opinion of science but if you feel he did the right thing I suggest you go complain to guys like Mohorič, Mas, etc. for reminding him not to try to copy Senna too much.Mistermaumau09-10-2026
- yeah that was poorly written, but Gulio was in the pink, and they didn’t work for him to protect the jersey. they let a group get up the road. the transfers are out of hand. what is a contract for?mij09-10-2026
- does he make it two years?mij09-10-2026
- A lot of things should not be happening but everything seems to be getting worse, not just in cycling or sport or professional surroundings. People are abandoning (common) standards in their belief they are only responsible towards themselves and have lost the ability to care, consider or understand consequences for others. If you ride , you should have noticed by now. I’m not one to stick to rules per se but when, I don’t go round aggressing or criticising others who don’t either. On the bike you constantly get hooted, harassed, insulted or nudged off by drivers who broke at least double the number of rules you did before they point yours out. That said, I haven’t seen many specifics on this case yet so I’m not going to comment specifically, for now. If anyone knows more…Mistermaumau09-10-2026
- it is crazy. is this UAE at the end of Tadej’s reign? it happens!mij09-10-2026
- Not *all* Remco's wins have been without Tadej around. Tadej has beaten Remco in 2 direct head-to-head TT encounters, but the rest, with both present, Remco has taken the crown. If we're going to state facts, let's be accurate and give Remco credit where it is due, that man is often unbeatable in a TT.anonymouscyclist09-10-2026
- For sure those two won’t be making a break as a duo :-)Mistermaumau09-10-2026
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