Where: Lombardy, Italy
When: October 9, 2021
Rank: UCI WorldTour
Il Lombardia 2019 peloton riding along lake Como (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Il Lombardia – previously known as the Tour of Lombardy or Giro di Lombardia – is usually the final Monument of the five in the cycling season and is traditionally the last major outing for the peloton before they take their off-season break.
Last year saw the race held earlier than most of the other monuments in a rescheduling that saw the race held on August 15 but it is back in its usual slot for 2021.
Running since 1905, it is the Classic with fewest interruptions in its lifetime, with only the 1943 and 1944 editions having to be scrapped because of the war, meaning the ‘race of the falling leaves’, which takes place in the Lombardy region of Italy, is now in its 114th edition in 2020.
There is an added bit of bragging rights to this year’s race as it is another chance to see the riders who will be fighting for the Giro d’Italia later in the year go head-to-head and this time on Italian soil.
The race will likely be broadcast on Eurosport and GCN Race Pass.
The impressive roll call of winners includes the likes of Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, Tom Simpson and Sean Kelly. Italian Coppi holds the record number of victories, having taken five during his career.
Since the Worlds were moved from summer to autumn in 1995, Lombardy is more often than not the first place the new road race world champion gets to show off his rainbow jersey for the first time.
2010: Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
2011: Oliver Zaugg (Sui) Leopard-Trek
2012: Joaquim Rodríguez (Esp) Team Katusha
2013: Joaquim Rodríguez (Esp) Team Katusha
2014: Dan Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp
2015: Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team
2016: Esteban Cháves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange
2017: Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
2018: Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ)
2019: Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
2020: Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team
Key info: TV guide | Start list
Three months after breaking his back in a horrific crash at Il Lombardia, Jan Bakelants has revealed that he is a centimetre shorter due to his injuries.
Belgian rider says horror crash during Il Lombardia has not put him off cycling
Jan Bakelants is unsure if he will ever race a bike again after breaking his back in a dramatic crash at Il Lombardia three weeks ago, revealing that someone accidentally drove a motorbike over his leg while he was receiving treatment on the road.
Jan Bakelants and Simone Petilli are both in hospital after suffering broken vertebrae in crashes on the same corner as Laurens De Plus at Il Lombardia.
Laurens De Plus escaped without serious injuries after he suffered a bad crash at Il Lombardia, flying over road-side barriers after misjudging a corner.
Vincenzo Nibali delivered a home victory for the Italian crowd at Il Lombardia as he attacked on the penultimate climb of the day to take a solo win.
'Flu and sore throat' rules Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin out of Saturday's Il Lombardia
Dan Martin looks ahead to the final Monument of the 2017 season, Saturday's Il Lombardia
Classic climbs, Sky vs Quick-Step and Nibali's form
Colombian Esteban Chaves will miss Il Lombardia after fracturing his shoulder blade in a crash at Giro dell’Emilia in Italy
It wasn't an ideal WorldTour debut for the Australian neo-pro Rob Power at Il Lombardia
Esteban Chaves played it cool to take his first ever Monument victory at Il Lombardia
Esteban Chaves took his first career Monument victory and became the first rider from his nation to win Il Lombardia
Wout Poels and Mikel Landa lead Team Sky at Il Lombardia as the British squad look for their second Monument win of the season
Vincenzo Nibali saves his best to last at Il Lombardia after an off-colour performance at the Tour de France and disqualification at the Vuelta a España
"I didn't want to finish the season without a victory" says Dan Martin after winning Il Lombardia
Irishman Dan Martin puts in late attack to win Il Lombardia
