Visma head to Il Lombardia with a strong collective, but without an outright favourite

The autumn classics season is coming to an end, and the prestigious Il Lombardia is shaping up to be the grand finale of the series. Known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves", this competition is not only famous for its breathtaking scenery, but also for its demanding climbs that always test the endurance and strategy of the riders.

Despite the absence of their brightest star Jonas Vingegaard, Team Visma | Lease a Bike presents itself with a strong and motivated squad, looking to leave its mark on this monument of world cycling. On October 11, the bells of the Madonna del Ghisallo will once again ring out, marking the arrival of the riders at one of the most iconic points of Il Lombardia.

This year's course will be no exception, and the Visma | Lease a Bike team faces the challenge with optimism, and an ambition to at least repeat George Bennett's second place from 2020 edition.

With riders like young Cian Uijtdebroeks and Ben Tulett in excellent form, as well as the experienced Sepp Kuss and Tiesj Benoot, the team has enough strength to challenge the big favorites.

Sport director Marc Reef underlines the importance of the collective strategy: "Lombardia is a huge race, so we are very motivated to perform here. It's also a very tough race. The decisive climb this year, the Passo di Ganda, is colossal, especially after such a long day. We bring a strong team, Cian and Ben are in good shape, and Tiesj gets better the harder the race gets, so hopefully everyone can play an important role in the finish."

One of the team's big names, Tiesj Benoot, returns to competition after being affected by an illness that kept him out of the World Championships. His performance at the European Championships, where he showed to be at a high level, gives hope that he will be ready to face the challenge of Il Lombardia.

For the Belgian, this will be a special moment, as it marks not only the end of his season, but also the end of his time with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, a team he joined in 2022 and with which he has shared many experiences.

Benoot is excited by the atmosphere that always accompanies this race: "The atmosphere in the race is amazing, and the area is beautiful, although the climbs are a bit too hard for me," he says with a smile. "It's the perfect race for climbers, especially when we finish in Bergamo like this year. I really want to finish the season with a good feeling. The race is very honest, so you just hope to have a good day."

This Il Lombardia not only marks the end of Benoot's season, but also his farewell to the squad that welcomed him for two years. The Belgian has been a key player in the classics and stage races, demonstrating an enviable consistency and earning the respect of his teammates.

"It will be special, because I've really felt at home in this team," Benoot reflects. "It's a little sad, but we'll see each other next year on the road, and I'll take all the great memories and relationships I've built here."