"Il Lombardia isn't a race for me" - Why one rider's early move could be judged as 'reckless' but was his only way to win
Cycling
Christian Scaroni is among one of the most prolific classics specialists in cycling. With multiple top ten finishes in major championships, monuments and major classics, the Italian rider was once again at the forefront of the action as he finished in 8th place.
The XDS Astana rider brought strong form into the monument off the back of a bronze medal at the European Championships, and made his most ambitious move of the race 60 kilometres from the finish.
Following a searing attack from Matteo Jorgenson, Quinn Simmons and Brandon McNulty forming an American trident, the 28-year-old saw his chance to follow some powerful riders and get ahead of the bunch - something he knew he would need some breathing room from the pure climbers on the penultimate Civiglio climb.
"On the Ghisallo [60 kilometres from the finish, Ed.], I wanted to give it a try. Some might have thought it was a bit reckless, but I knew I was beaten by certain riders and the only solution was to get ahead," Scaroni told Tuttobici.
Paul Seixas in action at Il Lombardia 2026
Attacking move shut down by Red Bull
"As soon as I saw Simmons attack, I followed him, but behind him the Red Bull immediately started pulling and I realized there would be no hope for us. On the Civiglio, the race exploded and I had to manage it."
After the race opened up and Paul Seixas launched his blazing attack to a first monument win, Scaroni was fortunate to be in a group with Remco Evenepoel and joined the main chasers to sprint for the minor places behind. For Scaroni, the race's longer climbs doesn't suit him.
"Luckily, I then came back with Remco, who did the hard work on the flat. We tried to get back on Ciccone and Mas, on the descent we had a ten-second advantage, but it was difficult to recover ground, then in the last two kilometers everyone thought about doing their own sprint.
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"Il Lombardia isn't a race for me"
"Il Lombardia isn't a race for me, there are climbs that are too long for my characteristics, but I wanted to test myself. I think I've shown that I can hold my own on all surfaces.
Ultimately, the Italian is happy with his fill from the race. He may have regrets in his sprint for the fourth place spot on the line, but won't lose too much sleep as the season winds down.
"In the morning, the goal was to finish in the top ten, but then anything can happen in the race. I'm satisfied, I was in good shape and I never had a moment of overreaction.
"Perhaps my only small regret would be the final sprint for fourth place. I didn't find a gap to get a better placing, but given how the race was shaping up, I can only be happy."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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Rafionain-Glas11-10-2026 - Can we get a comment from the UCI on this. The silence from Aigle is deafening! Come on cycling journalists , start annoying them to get a comment please.Paul53111-10-2026
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