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2017 Tour of Lombardy Preview

The Giro di Lombardia changes every year, 2017 sees the return to the start in Bergamo with the finish in Como, just like two years ago in 2015 when Vincenzo Nibali was triumphant. This year it features the BRUTAL climb of Muro di Sormano.

The 111th edition of the Tour of Lombardy will be held on Saturday the 7th of October, 2017. The fifth of cycling’s five Monuments is the last illustrious European race of the season. Given the time of year, Il Lombardia has been nicknamed the ‘Race of the Falling Leaves’.

In 2016 it was Esteban Chaves who took the victory, the colombian outsprinted his fellow escapees Diego Rosa and Rigoberto Uran.

The race this year is 247 kms long and features numerous iconic climbs, some with the fiercest gradients which will suit the best climbers and puncheurs. A very selective route with six climbs and 4,000 meters of vertical elevation.

2017 Tour of Lombardy Preview

The race really gets underway after 48 kms with the climb of the Colle Gallo, 7.4 kms with an average gradient of 6%. The peloton with reach the easier slopes of the Colle Brianza, 7.7km with an average of 3%, climb get increasingly difficult.

The real battle with start after 178 kms and riders reach the slopes of the hollowed spiritual climb of the Madonna del Ghisallo, 8.5 kms with an average of 6.2% and maximum gradient of 14%.

The war of attrition continues, next up the Colma di Sormano, 5.1kms at an average of 6.6%) before the gut wrenching Muro di Sormano. At only 1.9kms long the Muro di Sormano packs a real punch, with an average gradient of 15.8% and maximum gradient 27%!

the gut wrenching Muro di Sormano

But it's still no over, there's the punchy climb of the Civiglio at 4.1 kms long with an average of 10%, onto the final duel, the San Fermo della Battaglia, a 2.7 km climb with an average  7.2% it's up to 10% in places.

Whomever crests this final climb has only 5.4 kms downhill to the finish line. This indeed will be a battle of attrition, played out on the steeps climbs and fast descents alomg the shores of lake Como.

2017 Tour of Lombardy Preview

The Teams

Teams of eight riders who will participate in the race have been announced, the 111th Il Lombardia on 7th October  will include 25 teams: 18 UCI WorldTeams and 7 UCI Professional Continental Teams.
 

World Tour

AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)
ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
BAHRAIN – MERIDA (BRN)
BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
BORA – HANSGROHE (GER)
CANNONDALE DRAPAC PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM (USA)
FDJ (FRA)
LOTTO SOUDAL (BEL)
MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)
ORICA – SCOTT (AUS)
QUICK – STEP FLOORS (BEL)
TEAM DIMENSION DATA (RSA)
TEAM KATUSHA ALPECIN (SUI)
TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO (NED)
TEAM SKY (GBR)
TEAM SUNWEB (GER)
TREK – SEGAFREDO (USA)
UAE TEAM EMIRATES (UAE)
Continental

ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI – SIDERMEC (ITA)
BARDIANI CSF (ITA)
COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS (FRA)
DIRECT ENERGIE (FRA)
GAZPROM – RUSVELO (RUS)
NIPPO – VINI FANTINI (ITA)
WILIER TRIESTINA – SELLE ITALIA (ITA)

The Favorites

Both climbing and descending suits 2015 winner Vincenzo Nibali. Kwiatkowski will be looking to expand his classics victories, with Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and Clasica de San Sebastian already in his belt buckle in 2017.

*** Vincenzo Nibali, Michal Kwiatkowski, Warren Barguil, Fabio Aru, Gianni Moscon, Esteban Chaves
** Bauke Mollema, Rigoberto Uran, Thibaut Pinot, Julian Alaphilippe, Wout Poels
* Mikel Landa, Tony Gallopin, Romain Bardet, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Matej Mohoric, Tim Wellens

The Gran Fondo

On Sunday 8 October, amateurs will have the opportunity to ride on the same roads (starting and arriving in Como) faced by pro riders on the previous day. From Onno until the finish – the last 81km – the route will be identical to that of Il Lombardia with the Ghisallo, Muro and Colma di Sormano, Civiglio and San Fermo della Battaglia climbs before the finish line.

Registrations are open here

2017 Tour of Lombardy Preview