The Route for the 2026 Il Lombardia Unveiled in Milan

The route for the 120th edition of Il Lombardia has been officially unveiled at the Palazzo della Regione Lombardia in Milan, marking the final chapter of the major two-wheeled events organised by RCS Sport. Running from 9 to 11 October, the weekend will bring the curtain down on the European cycling season.

Festivities begin on 9 October with one of the key innovations of this year’s event: the official team presentation for Il Lombardia presented by Crédit Agricole. The ceremony will take place at the Sentierone in Bergamo from 5 p.m., offering fans the opportunity to welcome the world’s top riders ahead of the decisive weekend.

The 120th edition of the Classic of the Falling Leaves will start from Bergamo on Saturday 10 October and finish in Como after 239 kilometres. The route includes nine climbs and a total of 4,600 metres of elevation gain. After leaving Bergamo, the peloton heads into Val Seriana, tackling a short flat section before entering the rugged terrain of the Pre-Alps. The opening sequence features the ascent of Colle dei Pasta, cresting at Bocche di Gavardo, followed by the climb to Selvino with its iconic hairpin bends. The riders then face Colle di Berbenno and Valpiana, completing the first block of climbs. The race continues across the Alta Brianza, taking on the Giovenzana side of Colle Brianza before descending rapidly towards Lecco.

Upon reaching the shores of Lake Como, the riders climb from Lecco towards Bellagio, where the legendary ascent of the Madonna del Ghisallo begins. With gradients reaching 14 percent and a series of sweeping bends, Ghisallo remains one of the defining climbs of Il Lombardia. A fast descent to Maglio leads into a gentle downhill run toward Como, where the riders enter a 22-kilometre finishing circuit. After passing through the city, the peloton tackles San Fermo della Battaglia for the first time, descends back into Como, and crosses the finish line. One kilometre later, the decisive ascent to Civiglio begins, with gradients consistently around 10 percent. After descending into Como once more, the riders face San Fermo della Battaglia for a second and final time.

The final ten kilometres unfold within the city of Como, along wide avenues leading to the railway underpass where the last ascent of San Fermo della Battaglia begins. The climb averages seven percent, peaking at ten percent, on a narrow road with a rough surface and several tight hairpins. The summit lies five kilometres from the finish. A fast, well-paved descent follows, featuring two illuminated tunnels and two large roundabouts, ending with one kilometre to go. At six hundred metres from the line, the riders negotiate a final sweeping left-hand bend before the run-in to the finish.