Organisers of the ultimate Monument of the season, Il Lombardia, will deliver the race again to the Colma di Sormano for the primary time since Remco Evenepoel’s terrifying crash in 2020 – however in the wrong way to what has been used for the reason that climb was reintroduced to the race in 2012.
The climb ought to play in favour of defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates), however former winner Vincenzo Nibali stated he hopes to see a two-man duel.
“It is a race that I’ve at all times beloved, and I’m proud to have gained it twice,” Nibali stated. “I actually just like the route, it is robust and selective. Being the final Monument Traditional of the yr many riders will arrive drained however on the similar time prepared to fireplace the final shot. I would wish to see a superb duel between Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel who, following the evolution of the season, are to be thought-about the primary favourites”.
The Sormano in its earlier route included a detour onto a facet path dubbed the ‘Muro di Sormano’ that kicked as much as gradients of 25% in sections and sometimes pressured riders to ascent on foot. In 1960, organiser Vincenzo Torriani added this stretch to boost a race he feared was now not producing worthy winners.
That spectacle got here at a value, nonetheless, because the descent on the opposite facet is taken into account to be essentially the most technically demanding in skilled biking, and has been the positioning of a number of devastating crashes.
Evenepoel crashed on that descent in 2020 when he misjudged a pointy left flip and went over the stone wall of a bridge, crashing 5 metres down and fracturing his pelvis. In 2017, Laurens De Plus, Jan Bakelandts, Simone Petilli and Daniel Martínez crashed in a unique part and plunged right into a ravine.
This time, the Sormano will climb moderately than descend that treacherous stretch of highway, reaching the summit with 42 kilometres to go. The riders will take the a lot gentler principal highway on the best way down the opposite facet the place a collection of hairpin bends will scale back speeds and, hopefully, present a safer touchdown for the peloton.
The Colma di Sormano is a major a part of the 252-kilometre route from Bergamo to Como that takes in eight named ascents and finishes with a fast descent.
Map of the 2024 Il Lombardia (Picture credit score: RCS Sport)
The race departs from Bergamo and summits the primary climb, the Forcellino di Bianzano, after 29.9 kilometers of racing. The Ganda climb comes instantly after with the crest at kilometre 49.8. This ascent will get steeper towards the summit, with a most gradient of 15% simply earlier than the highest and a median of 9.8% for the final 2.7km.
It will likely be an ideal launching pad for the breakaway with a little bit of a plateau earlier than the lengthy, gradual descent.
The profile of the Passo Ganda (Picture credit score: RCS Sport)
The race will settle in for the lengthy haul after the Ganda, with two smaller ascents – the Colle di Berbenno and Valpiana previous a a lot flatter stretch of the route heading to Lake Como.
The Berbenno is easier than the Valpiana, which is over 10 kilometres lengthy and averages 6.2%, with a stretch of 10% gradients close to the foot of the climb.
(Picture credit score: RCS Sport)
The route passes Lecco and Onno earlier than becoming a member of the normal route towards the Madonna del Ghisallo ascent, which will likely be taken from the far much less demanding facet after the Sella di Osigo climb.
A fast descent towards Bellagio brings the route alongside the lake, with this flat stretch giving riders one final relaxation earlier than the Sormano.
The profile of the Sella di Osigo and Madonna del Ghisallo (Picture credit score: RCS Sport)
As soon as the riders hit the bottom of the Sormano in Nesso, the race will explode on the 13-kilometre climb. The primary 10 kilometres common 6.9% however there are steeper sections together with a 13% stretch earlier than a quick plateau. Then, the ultimate kilometre averages over 9% earlier than the highest.
Laura Weislo
Laura set out from Bellagio to attempt to trip the Sormano in 2013 however chickened out on using the descent in moist, foggy situations. Descending within the route the race will go in 2024, she discovered it to be a lot simpler and with a far decrease hazard of grievous bodily hurt.
(Picture credit score: RCS Sport)
The short descent snakes down into Maglio earlier than levelling out with a delicate downhill all the best way to Como.
The riders should deal with the San Fermo della Battaglia ascent with a brief stretch of 10% grades earlier than plunging towards the end line.
The profile of the ultimate kilometre (Picture credit score: RCS Sport)
