Il Lombardia

[MattTuck]

Yes, the ink is barely dry on the World Championships, but we have the last monument of the year coming up on Sunday.

Start List (http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=150010&c=3)

My pick (which is the curse of death for a rider's chances) is Bauke Mollema.

http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2015/09/2015-lombardia-profile1-748x427.jpg

From a recent article:
A new route for this yearç—´ Giro di Lombardia, which organizer RCS Sport announced today, features a challenging finale that will have the riders either climbing or descending for most of the final 73 kilometers of the 245-kilometer route.

The autumn classic, to be held on October 4, will include an ascent of the fearsome Colma di Sormano, a climb that returned to Il Lombardia in 2012, after a 40-year layoff, but didn稚 feature in last year痴 running. The Colma averages 17 percent, with sections kicking up close to 30 percent. And it comes immediately after the Madonna del Ghisallo, a beast in its own right, with an average gradient of 6.2 percent over its 8.5 kilometers.

What痴 left of the peloton will then descend into the lakeside city of Como for two more short, punchy climbs葉he five-kilometer Civiglio, at an average of 10 percent, and the five-kilometer San Fermo della Battaglia. Though it averages a friendlier seven percent, the latter climb tops out just five kilometers from the finish.

After a four-kilometer descent, the riders will have to negotiate one left-hand turn with 600 meters to go, which will put them onto a wide, flat straight that promises a high-speed finish for whomever has managed to hang on.

In addition to the 17 WorldTour teams, the season-ending monument will feature eight wild-card squads, including American Pro Continental outfit UnitedHealthcare.

Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/09/news/2015-lombardia-route-is-a-nasty-one_384443#mWzURS87bIZL0eby.99

Here's Coppi riding the race in 1950.
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/perlo-Coppi1950.jpg

[guido]

Do the Italian fans still run along the road dressed in suits and ties?

[MattTuck]

Do the Italian fans still run along the road dressed in suits and ties?

Only the ones with style.

[FlashUNC]

The Colma is a nasty, nasty climb.

I'd go with Martin or Kwiatkowski. Dark horse pick? Rui Costa.

[echappist]

The Colma is a nasty, nasty climb.

I'd go with Martin or Kwiatkowski. Dark horse pick? Rui Costa.

Kwiatek hasnt climbed well this year. Martin was injured and is an unknown

Valverde, Rodriguez, Aru, and Nibs seem to be very suited for this. When they reintroduced il Muro di Sormano, it was placed toward the beginning of the race. Now they've moved it toward the end.

Gallopin, Uran, and Wellens could also do well

[sandyrs]

V i n o f o r e v e r

[bobswire]

Hey Matt,where did you find a list of the riders? I can only find teams.
Team link
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/GiroLombardia/2010/en/teams_2015.shtml

[MattTuck]

Hey Matt,where did you find a list of the riders? I can only find teams.
Team link
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/GiroLombardia/2010/en/teams_2015.shtml

Pro Cycling Stats (http://www.procyclingstats.com) Possibly the best source of information about races and race results. No commentary, it is all just data, but they do a good job with it.

[tiretrax]

If the start list is accurate, I wonder if Gilbert and van Avermatt will be rogue and should be watched closely. No Saxo?

[MattTuck]

If the start list is accurate, I wonder if Gilbert and van Avermatt will be rogue and should be watched closely. No Saxo?

The little green check next to the team name indicates a confirmed startlist.

Everything else is provisional. I guess in theory, they can change stuff up to the last minute, but the check mark indicates something more official.

[echappist]

If the start list is accurate, I wonder if Gilbert and van Avermatt will be rogue and should be watched closely. No Saxo?

the finish this year is the same as the finish used when Gilbert won his two Lombardia titles in 2009 and 2010, except the lead up is quite a bit more hilly

Alaphilippe, otoh, may do well here

this is from the 2009 edition
http://www.steephill.tv/classics/giro-di-lombardia/profile.jpg

[bobswire]

Pro Cycling Stats (http://www.procyclingstats.com) Possibly the best source of information about races and race results. No commentary, it is all just data, but they do a good job with it.

Cool thanks.
Interesting, PCS rankings have Sagan individual road ranking 3rd in the World while the UCI have him 16th, though I don't know if UCI have included his Worlds win. Pretty much why I don't judge an individuals worth and or abilities by UCI ranking.

[kramnnim]

What happened to Alaphilippe on Sunday?

[MattTuck]

What happened to Alaphilippe on Sunday?

According to Google translate, and his site.

The French Julien Simon and Julian Alaphilippe dropped to 50 kilometers from the end of the road race at the World Championships, held in Richmond (USA). Julian suffered from gastric problems while Simon was caught in a fall.
The Team of France was heckled during this global Richmond won by a very powerful Peter Sagan! Nacer Bouhanni tasted three times bitumen Virginia, but never our man was counted KO! It is noted in each case to try to (...)

[merlinmurph]

The Colma is a nasty, nasty climb.

Holy crap, I guess so:
The Colma averages 17 percent, with sections kicking up close to 30 percent."

[FlashUNC]

There's a reason they took it out 40 years ago.

[MattTuck]

I just caught this article about the Italian classics from velonews (http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/09/news/bello-autumno-six-cant-miss-italian-classics_386770)

I have to admit, other than Lombardia I was unaware of these other late season races and their history...

Four days after the curtain falls on the Richmond worlds, Milano-Torino will open the 2015 Italian fall classics. The modest Thursday timeslot belies the raceç—´ significance. It boasts six fewer editions than Liège-Bastogne-Liège the race known as La Doyenne, and traditionally referred to as the oldest. But Milano-Torino debuted in 1876, 16 years before the Belgian classic, which makes it the oldest race on the professional calendar.

Old age is seldom achieved without change or trauma. Milano-Torinoç—´ struggle to gain traction in its earliest years is reflected in the yawning 18-year gap between its first and second editions.

Several more years-long hiatuses followed before the race finally picked up momentum in 1913. And like many races, it suffered as Europe and its cyclists fought two world wars. There have been recent challenges, as well. In 1987, organizers uprooted the race from its traditional spring spot ahead of Milano-Sanremo and pushed it to the fall. It moved back in 2005, only to be transplanted again in 2008, when the ascendant Strade Bianche demanded its date. In 2000, the race was canceled due to the Po River flood that killed scores and displaced tens of thousands, and from 2008 through 2011, it was put on ice while organizer Associazione Ciclistica Arona and owner RCS battled over terms.

The renaissance came in 2012. With management issues resolved, organizers revived Milano-Torino and traded the customary flat finale in front of the Fausto Coppi Motovelodromo for two circuits up the five-kilometer, nine percent slopes of the Basilica di Superga climb east of town.

The reintroduction of the brutally steep Muro di Sormano climb to the Giro di Lombardia had a new group of lightweight contenders targeting that monument, and Milano-Torinoç—´ newly challenging profile was a perfect tune-up.

The new finish impressed in its debut, when Alberto Contador attacked on the second trip up the Superga to take the first and still only one-day win of his career. Fourth-placed Joaquim Rodríguez won his first of two Lombardia titles three days later, while runner-up Diego Ulissi, one of Italyç—´ most promising young classics riders, returned to win Milano-Torino the following year.

Whoever wins Milano-Torino this year will have little time to savor the sunset over the Alps. Friday morning brings the start of the Gran Piemonte, which, until 2008, was known as the Giro del Piemonte. Like many of the fall classics, Piemonte has led a challenging existence, particularly during Europeç—´ recent economic troubles.

Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/09/news/bello-autumno-six-cant-miss-italian-classics_386770#7hscB59Q87l4GBmV.99

And it looks like cyclingfans has a race today called Tre Valli Varesine... More bike racing :hello:

[rwsaunders]

The story of the Red Devil...

http://pages.rapha.cc/retrospect/il-diavolo-rosso

[MattTuck]

The story of the Red Devil...

http://pages.rapha.cc/retrospect/il-diavolo-rosso

That's a funny story, if true. Even back then, suspensions were an issue! The more things change the more they stay the same.

Let's critique his position... and the HT angle, rake on that fork :eek:

http://domestique.rapha.cc/uploads/bloodclot-2012e.jpg

[Uncle Jam's Army]

If Astana could just get their team tactics right (i.e., tow your rider with the team car when the cameras aren't on you), there's no stopping Nibali on Sunday.

I keed! Seriously, though, my money is on the Shark on Sunday, with or without the team car tow.

[kramnnim]

Nibali just won...something today.

[MattTuck]

Betting Odds (http://www.paddypower.com/bet/cycling/giro-di-lombardi) if you are interested.

[pff]

Yep, Nibali has a chip on his shoulder and freshness in his legs.

edit: although at those odds, I'd take Dumoulin (80:1)

[MattTuck]

Il Lombardia Recon Ride with Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano (http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/10/news/road/recon-ride-podcast-il-lombardia-preview_386917)

[echappist]

Rain predicted.

I'm going J Rodriguez, Wellens, Valverde, with Martin and Aru as outsiders.

Rodriguez and Wellens both do very well in the rain.

[pff]

Rain predicted.

I'm going J Rodriguez, Wellens, Valverde, with Martin and Aru as outsiders.

Rodriguez and Wellens both do very well in the rain.

doesn't nibali do well in ····e weather?

a) good descending skills
b) kicked butt on the TDF cobbles stage 2014
c) tirreno adriatico:

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2013/03/11/2/bettiniphoto_0136029_1_full_670.jpg

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Please post any good streams here on race day.

If it rains, what better choice than the Shark to play in water.

[echappist]

doesn't nibali do well in ï½·ï½·ï½·ï½·e weather?

a) good descending skills
b) kicked butt on the TDF cobbles stage 2014
c) tirreno adriatico:

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2013/03/11/2/bettiniphoto_0136029_1_full_670.jpg

he is also known for falling in the rain at Lombardia, namely in 2010 and 2013. He also fell in the rain at Worlds in 2013. I'd say his rainy weather descents are a bit overhyped whereas J Rod and Valverde are both excellent.

[kramnnim]

Purito is out. Burned up too much energy over the Atlantic.

[echappist]

i guess i'll go with

Valverde, Wellens, Aru; Majka and Rui Costa in that case. Really want to put Gallopin in there as he did so well in that atrocious stage of Paris Nice; Martin i'd put in for dry weather, but he also has issues in the wet (slipped in the final corner at 2013 Lombardia)

edit: apparently Aru isn't racing, so i guess i'll put Martin back in there

Valverde, Wellens, Majka; Rui Costa and Martin

[kramnnim]

Valverde or someone from Astana.

[kramnnim]

Amusing to see the flag blown by the breeze get stuck on the stomach of the winner. lol.

Edit: I guess the flag was thrown by someone from the crowd. Great aim?

[echappist]

impressive piece of descending

just missed what happened after the Ghissalo, that must have been fireworks

[pff]

he is also known for falling in the rain at Lombardia, namely in 2010 and 2013. He also fell in the rain at Worlds in 2013. I'd say his rainy weather descents are a bit overhyped whereas J Rod and Valverde are both excellent.

;)

[echappist]

well, the sun was out from 50km left onwards ;). my statement isn't applicable if it's not raining

edit: notice the shadows
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DCwwsjV_yA0/VhFj_AxxtII/AAAAAAAAD7Y/9XQ5M8NeHMw/s640-Ic42/Lombardia.jpg

[oddsaabs]

Bravo Nibali! The guy has a HUGE set of balls to attack on the descent like that. Something tells me he's been down there before.

Checkout the video here:

https://youtu.be/iPHnqI13vPk

[54ny77]

wowwwwww!

that was incredible.

Bravo Nibali! The guy has a HUGE set of balls to attack on the descent like that. Something tells me he's been down there before.

Checkout the video here:

https://youtu.be/iPHnqI13vPk

[echappist]

wowwwwww!

that was incredible.

the victory was very well deserved. first time in a long time i recall a major race being won on the descent (he pulled out a 40 second gap!)

[soulspinner]

Awesome. Lombardia has been won before on the descent. I think Bettini did it in 2006.

[echappist]

Awesome. Lombardia has been won before on the descent. I think Bettini did it in 2006.

IIRC, it was Fabian Wegman who was dropped? Or was he dropped on the climb?

[oldpotatoe]

Bravo Nibali! The guy has a HUGE set of balls to attack on the descent like that. Something tells me he's been down there before.

Checkout the video here:

https://youtu.be/iPHnqI13vPk

Wow, bet his mechanic was more nervous than him. I'm thinkin' Nibs knows this decent Come il palmo della sua mano

Bravo

[soulspinner]

IIRC, it was Fabian Wegman who was dropped? Or was he dropped on the climb?

Yes, on the climb but only 5 seconds, Bettinis descent into Como was amazing.

[nooneline]

Yes, on the climb but only 5 seconds, Bettinis descent into Como was amazing.

heh... i think that was when bettini made wegman cry when he attacked.