2025-10-11T11:44:43.880Z<\/p>\n
UAE\u2019s domestique Novak was one of the riders dropped on the climb having done lots of work for his team setting the pace at the front of the peloton, but is trying to bridge back up to the peloton to do another shift.<\/p>\n
2025-10-11T11:40:12.053Z<\/p>\n
One of the most exciting names on the startlist today is Paul Seixas, making his monument debut at the age of just 19.Third-place at the European Championships confirmed that he might be one of the few riders in the world able to compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar in terms of pure talent – but surely this year\u2019s Il Lombardia will come too soon in his career for him to take him on today?<\/p>\n
‘When you race against Poga\u010dar, you take a slap in the face but I’m happy to take them’ – Paul Seixas ready for Il Lombardia debut<\/a><\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:36:01.718Z<\/p>\n The peloton has now also crested the climb, 2:30 behind the leaders.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:35:08.467Z<\/p>\n UAE Team Emirates XRG have taken full control of the peloton, leading it all the way up this climb.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:33:26.646Z<\/p>\n The break reaches the top of the climb still mostly intact, with only Hellemose and Guernalec dropped from it so far.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:25:02.422Z<\/p>\n The gap’s come down on this climb, as UAE set a tempo. It’s now at 2:30.<\/p>\n 140KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:20:30.256Z<\/p>\n The climb is also claiming victims in the break – Matthews\u2019 teammate Hellemose is being distanced.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:19:41.432Z<\/p>\n The whittling down process has begun. Riders are starting to be dropped out the back of the peloton as they ascend the climb.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:18:47.597Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:17:34.939Z<\/p>\n Uno-X Mobility teammates Andreas Leknessund and Johannes Kulset touched wheels, but both are OK.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:13:33.237Z<\/p>\n Remco Evenepoel is seen as the man most likely to take the race to Poga\u010dar, and potentially challenge him for the win. Here\u2019s what the Belgian had to say regarding his chances prior to the race.<\/p>\n ‘Can I beat Tadej? Why not? Otherwise I wouldn’t be here’ \u2013 Remco Evenepoel ambitious and emotional in last race for Soudal-QuickStep<\/a><\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:11:04.679Z<\/p>\n The climbs start to come thick and fast now. They\u2019ve just started the Roncola, which lasts for 7.5km at an average of 7.4%.<\/p>\n RONCOLA<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:09:55.867Z<\/p>\n One team that hasn\u2019t put their nose to the wind in the peloton is Remco Evenepoel\u2019s Soudal-QuickStep. That doesn\u2019t mean the team don\u2019t believe they can challenge Poga\u010dar – instead, they\u2019ve been proactive in at least trying to put him under pressure, by getting Louis Vervaeke in the break.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:05:18.065Z<\/p>\n The gap between the leaders and the peloton is the highest it’s been all day, surpassing three minutes for the first time.<\/p>\n 150KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T11:01:27.025Z<\/p>\n Poga\u010dar waxed lyrical about the strength of his team prior to the race.<\/p>\n ‘The legs are good, the team is strong’ – Tadej Poga\u010dar backed by UAE super team for Il Lombardia record bid <\/a><\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:58:12.078Z<\/p>\n Despite their strength, it\u2019s still Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe who are doing the bulk of the work leading the peloton. This is some display of confidence in their leader Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d, given Poga\u010dar\u2019s status as overwhelming favourite.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:56:15.988Z<\/p>\n Adam Yates is on bidon duty for UAE, picking some up out the back of the peloton. The fact a rider as strong as him is doing so shows just how strong their line-up is – in addition to Poga\u010dar, they also have Isaac del Toro, Jay Vine and Pavel Sivakov riding.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:52:20.263Z<\/p>\n 2:30 is the gap as the riders take on the second of the day’s eight climbs, San Gottardo.<\/p>\n 160KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:49:03.099Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:42:15.241Z<\/p>\n Mattias Skjelmose was another rider who had been caught out in the split. He’s now riding at the back of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:39:52.880Z<\/p>\n It seems the riders who had been caught out in the split are now back in the peloton. Meanwhile the break’s lead is two minutes.<\/p>\n 170KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:38:16.185Z<\/p>\n Toms Skuji\u0146\u0161 has just tried an attack from out the blue, only to sit back after remonstrating with the TV moto.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:33:09.772Z<\/p>\n The iconic sight of Madonna del Ghisallo, chiming its bells as the riders ascended to the peak.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:29:34.249Z<\/p>\n Some big names have been caught out on the group behind the peloton – as well as Pidcock, Thymen Arensman and Romain Gr\u00e9goire are here.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:28:04.566Z<\/p>\n The gap between the break and the peloton remains at about 2:15, but there’s now a group of stragglers 45 seconds behind the latter.<\/p>\n 180KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:23:40.937Z<\/p>\n There have been splits in the peloton in the aftermath of that descent. he front peloton is very large still, but Pidcock isn’t in it.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:19:05.206Z<\/p>\n It seems that it was his shoes that Pidcock wasn’t happy with – he’s just had them replaced.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:16:57.377Z<\/p>\n The break’s lead remains at about 2:15.<\/p>\n 190KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:15:28.585Z<\/p>\n Pidcock is at the back of the peloton following his crash, and doesn’t look happy with his bike. He might be about to have a change.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:14:35.423Z<\/p>\n Red Bull’s Matteo Sobrero, leading the peloton.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:10:21.125Z<\/p>\n Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe\u2019s Jan Tratnik is leading the peloton, his team still assisting UAE Team Emirates XRG with the pace-setting. That may frustrate some teams, who will see the best way of defeating the team and their leader Tadej Poga\u010dar by all uniting against them.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:07:46.681Z<\/p>\n Pidcock\u2019s fall shows just why there was a scramble for position ahead of this descent – it\u2019s a steep one, steeper than the way up.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:07:04.507Z<\/p>\n Tom Pidcock has gone down in a crash on the descent. He\u2019s back up and riding and looks OK, but that\u2019s far from ideal.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:05:43.794Z<\/p>\n There\u2019s a bit of a battle at the front of the peloton as they go over the climb\u2019s summit, with teams wanting to be well-positioned for the descent.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:03:51.987Z<\/p>\n The break pass over the top of the familiar Madonna del Ghisallo church, with a lead of about 2:20 over the peloton.<\/p>\n 200KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T10:00:07.763Z<\/p>\n Madonna del Ghisallo is being ascended via its gentler side, which averages 3.9% for 8.8km.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:53:30.958Z<\/p>\n It\u2019s an iconic climb, and is home to a cycling museum, but is no longer one of the key climbs in terms of determining how the race unfolds.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:51:53.801Z<\/p>\n The riders are making their way up the first climb of the day, and it’s a famous one – the Madonna del Ghisallo, the climb most historically associated with the Tour of Lombardy.<\/p>\n MADONNA DEL GHISALLO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:50:15.218Z<\/p>\n The break at the front of the race.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:44:23.958Z<\/p>\n The break’s lead has grown to just over two minutes, and continues to get bigger.<\/p>\n 210KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:41:15.347Z<\/p>\n They\u2019re currently working to control the break, rather than bring it back. It seems like the 14 riders up the road might indeed be our break of the day.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:40:17.610Z<\/p>\n Sobrero is now on Novak\u2019s wheel, as UAE resume control.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:37:48.270Z<\/p>\n The peloton is being led by a Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe domestique, Matteo Sobrero, rather than one of the UAE contingent. They must be unhappy at having missed the break.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:36:52.640Z<\/p>\n The three chasers have indeed been caught.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:36:05.377Z<\/p>\n The three chasers have thrown in the towel and sat up, and will allow themselves to be brought back into the peloton.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:35:37.626Z<\/p>\n A first look at the breakaway up the road.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:33:50.252Z<\/p>\n In between, De Marchi, Leknessund and Taminiaux are just under a minute behind the leaders.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:32:45.168Z<\/p>\n The peloton hasn’t sat up, but this break is looking good. Their lead has grown to 1:30.<\/p>\n 220KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:29:22.734Z<\/p>\n Having swelled in size with riders bridging up to it, and lost a few men from earlier, there are now 14 in the lead group: Ganna, Hamilton, Langellotti, Matthews, Hellemose, Simmons, Gilvar, Lemmen, Bilbao, Guernalec, Vervaeke, Calzoni, Koerdt and Mattia Bais.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:26:31.970Z<\/p>\n A few riders have gone down in a crash, including Sepp Kuss. They’re all back up on their feet now.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:25:47.321Z<\/p>\n Nairo Quintana, Staune-Mittet and Formolo were the latest to try an attack, but have been brought back.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:24:16.882Z<\/p>\n UAE Team Emirates XRG have Domen Novak setting a pace at the front of the peloton, but he’s having a hard time controlling this. The break is almost a minute up the road, and more attacks are still coming out of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:22:20.744Z<\/p>\n Lionel Taminiaux has joined that duo, and is helping chase the leaders.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:21:00.928Z<\/p>\n Leknessund and De Marchi are the latest to try and chanse up to the leaders from the peloton.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:20:05.959Z<\/p>\n It hasn’t settled down in the peloton, with more attacks coming out of it. The lead group is about 15 seconds up the road.<\/p>\n 230KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:19:16.931Z<\/p>\n Mattia Bais and Louis Vervaeke have also joined them.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:18:32.229Z<\/p>\n More riders have bridged up to this group, most notably Filippo Ganna.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:15:05.605Z<\/p>\n As well as Simmons, Bilbao and Matthews, the other riders in the group are Gal Glivar, Walter Calzoni, Lucas Hamilton, Bart Lemmen, Asbj\u00f8rn Hellemose, Diego Pablo Sevilla and Thibault Guernalec.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:13:13.532Z<\/p>\n The peloton is about five seconds behind, and Orluis Aular has just attacked out of it to try and join the leaders.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:10:59.625Z<\/p>\n Pello Bilbao is another man in this group.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:09:25.026Z<\/p>\n Michael Matthews is also in this group. It seems like some of the big names are determined not to just wait around today for Poga\u010dar to do his thing, and instead try to ride on the front foot.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:08:05.320Z<\/p>\n Simmons has about ten riders with him, a few seconds ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:06:51.859Z<\/p>\n Quinn Simmons attacks right from the off – he\u2019s a big name to be making a move so early on.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:06:15.793Z<\/p>\n And they’re off!<\/p>\n OFFICIAL START<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:04:47.266Z<\/p>\n Just one more kilometre to go until the flag drops and the race proper starts. This is a prestigious race to get into the day’s break for, so there will be an eagerness among many to attack from the off.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T09:01:04.292Z<\/p>\n Tadej Poga\u010dar and Remco Evenepoel sharing a moment before doing battle today. These two have been the protagonists of the late-season one day races, occupying first and second place at both the Worlds and European Championships, and will face-off again one final time today.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:53:16.821Z<\/p>\n The riders awaiting the unofficial start in Como.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:51:52.435Z<\/p>\n It\u2019s an emotional day in the peloton, as many are riding the final race of their careers. As well as Majka, Louis Meintjes is another set to retire, here given a guard of honour by his colleagues.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:48:09.693Z<\/p>\n The first flag is waved and the riders have begun navigating the neutralised zone.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:45:57.088Z<\/p>\n It might bear the poetic moniker of Race of the Falling Leaves due to its autumnal setting, but the weather in Lombardy is pleasant today, with the sun shining and the temperature at a mild seventeen degrees.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:43:21.392Z<\/p>\n Poga\u010dar prior to the start of the race today, honouring his teammate Rafa\u0142 Majka, who is poised to retire. The Pole has been one of Poga\u010dar\u2019s most essential teammates over the years, and has a chance to contribute to one last major win today.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:38:17.955Z<\/p>\n The riders are just a few moments away from the neutralised start.<\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:35:32.717Z<\/p>\n Here\u2019s more information about the route for this year. Unlike the other monuments, Il Lombardia varies more year on year, and for the 2025 edition will switch directions again with a start in Como and finish in Bergamo.<\/p>\n Il Lombardia 2025 route<\/a><\/p>\n 2025-10-11T08:17:08.113Z<\/p>\n Who is going to win today? Check out our analysis of the main contenders to see who are our picks.<\/p>\n![\"BERGAMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/qdcTDA9fEhs5G4TGRXh44H.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"BERGAMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tSQTbmQP8A85gWBqqfHrC4.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"BERGAMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/EgRLT3hJ8ymGvCv4GKi7gi.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"BERGAMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8wABG9w5JSLT8TXtd3ikcn.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"BERGAMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/LACgGj9EtWqNf7XKCgzVd5.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"BERGAMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/nAcNGpFujzvZhHi63wvNyY.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"COMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/qpX3a72WTxFobYjqc86d3X.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"COMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/heNUDQtnJbh9B54kkCWmvQ.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"COMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/FvtnoPxBMLp2M9feCgsQZY.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"COMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wwijX7pASjabDxsTg9eRsR.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"COMO,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/3nx8dkrwnwD3tYWocf7B87.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n