Il Lombardia 2025: schedule, route, and favorites of the last Monument of the year

Next Saturday, October 11, the Classic of the Dead Leaves arrives, the last monument of each season, unofficial closure of the same and traditionally used to honor the recently crowned World Champion who, in the case of Tadej Pogacar, winner of the last four editions, is enough on his own to give himself a tribute. Achieving a fifth Il Lombardia in this 2025 will mean for the Slovenian reaching another record, the victories in this race held by the legendary Fausto Coppi.

Favorites Il Lombardia 2025

It is difficult to name another favorite than Tadej Pogacar considering the exhibitions that the Slovenian has given us in the World Championships, in the European Championships and in the Tre Valli Varesine. A victory that, if confirmed, would not only equal the record of victories in Il Lombardia held by the Campionissimo Fausto Coppi but would also achieve the feat of winning them consecutively, something that the legendary Italian cyclist could not do as he had to wait another five years after his first four victories to establish the current record of victories.

The main rival of Tadej Pogacar should be, as in the World Championships and European Championships, Remco Evenepoel who, despite the defeats suffered in these races, remains convinced that he can beat the Slovenian cyclist. We will see what tactics he uses on this occasion to try to defeat him.

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We must not forget Tom Pidcock either, who, despite his form declining after La Vuelta, has enough class and the route suits his characteristics to be among the best on the Lombard roads.

Route Il Lombardia 2025

In this 2025, the finish is in Bergamo and the start in Como, towns that alternate their roles year after year. Although it is not the option that offers the most spectacular finish, the essence of Il Lombardia remains even though its iconic places, such as riding along the shores of Lake Como or the ascent to the Madonna del Ghisallo, are faced in the first of the 241 kilometers that make up this 2025 edition of Il Lombardia.

After that initial part marked by the ascent to the Madonna del Ghisallo, which will serve to define the breakaway of the day, it will be from kilometer 100 when things start to heat up with the climb to Roncola.

However, it will be the last 80 kilometers, with hardly any rest and linking the Passo della Crecetta, Zamba Alta, and Passo di Ganda where the race will decide its winner. If that were not enough, there will always be the final uphill stretch to the Citta Alta of Bergamo to finally determine the order of arrival.

How to watch Il Lombardia 2025

Eurosport and HBO Max will give, as usual, full coverage to the Italian classic that can be watched in its entirety both on the online platform and on Eurosport 2 channel starting at 10:30 in the morning until its conclusion around 17:25.