The 2020 edition of Il Lombardia is set to take place on Saturday 15th August over a hilly 231km route from Bergamo to Como.
Il Lombardia is usually the final of the five Monuments of road cycling in the calendar year, 'the race of the falling leaves' taking place in early autumn across the picturesque landscape of Lombardy in northern Italy.
However, due to the condensed race calendar of 2020 caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, this year's edition will be run in the blazing heat of August, a different prospect for the peloton.
While the 2020 Il Lombardia route has been shortened by 31km for this year, it is still a gruelling day in the saddle, covering six categorised climbs including the dreaded Muro di Sormano.
Usually a race reserved for punchy climbers, recent winners have included Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and defending champion Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo).
A stacked start list will descend on Bergamo this Saturday including the likes of Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and red-hot favourite Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-QuickStep).
Below, Cyclist has compiled a guide of all you need to know about the 114th edition of Il Lombardia.
Il Lombardia 2020: Key information
Date: Saturday 15th August
Start: Bergamo
Finish: Como
Distance: 231km
Climbs: Six
Il Lombardia 2020 route![]()
The route of Il Lombardia is much more fluid than its four Monument siblings, swapping its start and finish towns on a regular basis.
When the race first appeared in 1905, it took the form of a loop to and from Milan. From the 1960s until the early 2000s, the race would then start or finish in Milan with the opposing venue being another location within the Lombardia region. Between 2004 and 2006, the race even stared in the Swiss town of Mendrisio.
Since 2014, however, the race has settled on the beautiful cities of Bergamo and Como, alternating on a yearly basis between which hosts the start and which provides the finish.
Regardless of this change, the race still has two climbs that have been etched into legend and, again, appear in this year's route: the Madonna del Ghisallo and Muro di Sormano.
The Ghisallo is not particularly difficult, climbing for 10.2km away from the shores of Lake Como at 5.2%, but is immortalised for the Church of 'Madonna del Ghisallo' (the parton saint of cycling) that stands at its summit. Inside the church is a shrine dedicated to cycling, a small museum of artefacts and an eternal flame burning for all cyclists who have died.
The Muro di Sormano is much different to the Ghisallo. Rather than being a place of pilgrimage, it's usually a place of avoidance. That's because while just 1.7km in length, it averages a knee-crunching 17% with maximum gradients of 25%. A truly terrifying climb.
After these two ascents, the race climbs Civiglio (5.7km, 6.9%) and San Fermio della Battaglia (2.2km, 8.2%) before a descent to the line.
Il Lombardia 2020: Live TV guide and how to watch
Like all cycling, Il Lombardia will be broadcast on Eurosport this weekend.
The usual access applies. Eurosport is available on most digital packages like Sky and Virgin or can be bought separately and viewed online. Subscribe for £9.99 per month or shell out on the more cost-efficient annual package of £39.99.
You can also access Eurosport Player for £6.99 per month if you subscribe to Amazon Prime for £7.99 per month. This is more money but gets you an Amazon Prime account too, should that appeal.
Alternatively, you can download the new GCN Race Pass that will have extended broadcasting of the race, costing £39.99 per year. You can only watch via the GCN Race Pass on a phone or tablet, currently, but there are no ads.
Il Lombardia will be broadcast live on Eurosport 1 from 15:50 to 17:30
Il Lombardia 2020: The favourites
Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quickstep)
It feels weird to tout a 20-year-old as the out-and-out race favourite for Il Lombardia but among the bookies and experts, the Deceuninck-QuickStep rider is the man to beat.
His form is scintillating after wins in the overall at the Vuelta a Burgos and Tour of Poland in back-to-back weeks as well both races' Queen stages. His confidence is also high, which will be an asset on such a brutal course.
Jakob Fuglsang (Astana)
The one who almost matched Remco out in Poland was Jakob Fuglsang, a man who rolls well on single-day races due to his fortitude for attacking riding. In fact, he is defending champion of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a race he won solo after a daring bid for victory quite far from the line.
The arduous nature of the course certainly suits the 35-year-old and with a team of in-form riders around him, Alexander Vlasox and Alex Aranburu to name two, he seems like a solid tip.
George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma)
The best cycling team in the world right now are Jumbo-Visma, they cannot stop winning. One of those in a rich vein of form is Kiwi George Bennett.
He took Gran Piedmonte in the week, only his second career victory, and is climbing better than almost anyone at the moment. Do not be surprised if he goes well come Saturday.
Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo)
Never count out Vincenzo Nibali, a real racer, he can make something from nothing regardless of form or expectation. Twice a winner of Lombardia, he knows these roads better than anyone and can descend them like no one else.
His form is somewhat so-so, however he been there or thereabouts in some the Italian Classics, notably finishing in the front group of Milan-San Remo.
Ultimately, if Nibali was to make a hat trick of Lombardia victories this weekend, would we really be that shocked?
Il Lombardia: Previous winners
2019 - Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo
2018 - Thibaut Pinot (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
2017 - Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Bahrain-Merida
2016 - Esteban Chaves (COL) Orica-BikeExchange
2015 - Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Astana
2014 - Dan Martin (IRL) Garmin-Sharp
2013 - Joaquim Rodriquez (ESP) Team Katusha
2012 - Joaquim Rodriquez (ESP) Team Katusha
2011 - Oliver Zaugg (SUI) Leopard-Trek
2010 - Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto
2009 - Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Silence-Lotto
Most wins - Fausto Coppi (ITA), five
First winner - Giovanni Gerbi (ITA), 1905