Il Lombardia 2024: How to Watch, Favorites, Route, and More

The last Monument of the year is almost here! Il Lombardia, the Classic of the Falling Leaves, will give us one last show on the beautiful roads of Lombardy, Italy. With its steep climbs, treacherous descents, and gorgeous scenery, this race is a must-watch.

Keep reading for our guide to the broadcast options, race favorites, route, and more.

Giro di Lombardia: the Classic of the Falling Leaves

If you only tune in to cycling for the Grand Tours, you might be wondering: what is Il Lombardia, and why is it so special?

Well, it’s time to say goodbye to road racing for 2024, and what better way to do it? Il Lombardia and the other Italian classics mark the end of the road cycling season. The Giro di Lombardia, as it is also known, is held each year in Lombardy as one of the five “Monuments” of cycling. These one-day races are considered to be the most important single-day events in the sport.

Where does Il Lombardia get its nickname, The Classic of the Falling Leaves? It’s traditionally held in early October, going all the way back to 1905. In fact, it’s one of the classics with the most consistent schedule, with only a few of its editions canceled during wartime. The Italian nickname, Classica delle foglie morte, is known to cycling fans both in Italy and abroad and come from the beautiful fall colors that accompany this race’s scenery!

This year’s race will be held on Saturday, October 12th, 2024.

Read more: We Love Autumn Cycling

Last year’s Il Lombardia was one of the highlights of the Monuments.

The 2023 edition of the race was won by Tadej Pogačar. The race was distinguished by an exciting solo breakaway by Pogačar, who makes this type of attack his signature move. Once he distanced his rivals on the climbs, he was able to cross the finish line in Bergamo with a significant lead. This kind of dominant victory by a strong climbing contender is what we expect to see in 2024, too. There was also a nostalgic aspect to the day, as beloved French rider Thibaut Pinot participated for the last race of his career. Check out the highlights from that day in the video from GCN below:

The Route: Twists and Turns Across Lombardy

Il Lombardia is the toughest and longest of the late-season Italian races. The riders will traverse just over 250km to make it to Como for the finish. Climbing will begin early this year, with trips to the summits of the Forcellino di Bianzno, the Passo di Ganda, the Colle di Berberino and Valpiana all within the first half of the race. The final climb of the day will play out at the San Fermo della Battaglia around 6 kilometers from the finish line.

This serious day of climbing won’t be without its lulls, especially in the middle of the race. But contenders will need to be on their guard for any breaks in the group of favorites, where so many intermediate climbs throughout the day will mean many chances to distance rivals and limit the pool of contenders towards the finish.

The beautiful city of Como will be the end point of Il Lombardia this year. Lake Como is well-known as one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, and viewers at home will no doubt be treated to some gorgeous helicopter shots of the scenery. The lake offers opportunities for boating, swimming, and enjoying water sports.

Como’s historic center is characterized by narrow cobbled streets, elegant buildings, and charming piazzas. The Duomo of Como, a Gothic cathedral, is also a prominent landmark that may be visible during the race. Although Como is already a popular tourist destination, there’s no doubt Il Lombardia viewers will want to visit there even more after seeing the gorgeous sights!

Racing fanatics may have noticed that this year’s Il Lombardia route lacks the iconic Civiglio climb. This long, steep climb made the route even more favorable to pure climbers. However, it couldn’t be included in this year’s route due to landslides in the area. This change from the traditional route means that this year’s race is more open to puncheurs and could lead to some surprises in the finale.

Read more: 8 Late-Season Races to Cure Your Post-Tour de France Blues

Who are the Favorites for Il Lombardia 2024?

Many riders target the Classic of the Falling Leaves as one last chance to get a late-season win. However, the competition is fierce, and not everyone has peak form in October. So who has the best chance at crossing the line first this year?

Read more: Tour Disappointments: 5 Riders with Something Left to Prove

Tadej Pogačar is the overwhelming favorite and the man to beat on Sunday. After he won the Giro Dell’Emilia in striking fashion last weekend, he’s quickly become the one to beat. Fans will be excited to see him snag another win in the rainbow jersey of the world champion. However, if something goes wrong for Pogi, we may see another contender take the victory in Como.

His countryman Primož Roglič certainly has the potential to win Il Lombardia this year. He’s a strong climber and has shown his ability to excel in one-day races in the past. While Il Lombardia is a challenging race, Roglič’s overall form and experience make him a formidable contender for a late-season win.

Remco Evenepoel also aims to stamp a win on this race. However, it’s difficult to forget his nearly career-ending accident in 2020 at this race. Evenepoel fell into a ravine and broke his pelvis, requiring many month of rehabilitation before he was ready to get back on the bike. Although he may have memories of that horrible day, they won’t stop him from putting up a strong showing at this year’s race. Watch for him to mark Pogačar and Roglič closely in case they try to make a gap in the mountainous portions of the race.

Outside contenders include Felix Gall and Pogačar’s teammate Juan Ayuso. Another one to watch is Marc Hirschi. The Swiss rider has been having an unreal end to his season as he prepares to start his new contract with Tudor Cycling in the 2025 season. Pulling out a win in Lombardy would be the cherry on top of a wonderful performance in the autumnal months, including at the World Championship road race.

How can I watch Il Lombardia 2024?

Sold on watching? Don’t worry — folks at home can still see all the action they would get on the roadside in Como.

Broadcast options for the race vary based on geographical location. Here are some options depending on where you are located around the globe:

United States

In the US, you can watch Il Lombardia coverage on Max with the B/R Sports add-on. This add-on includes access to over 300 global cycling events, including full replays of races held earlier in the season. Former GCN+ viewers may remember The Breakaway pre and post race shows, which are also available on Max. Racing action will start in the wee morning hours and wrap up around lunchtime, so tune in for brunch to catch the final kilometers.

Canada

In Canada, you can watch Il Lombardia live on FloBikes. It will also be available as a replay. FloBikes is a standalone cycling service with monthly and annual plans.

Europe

In the EU and Great Britain, Il Lombardia will be broadcast on Discovery+. If you aren’t already subscribed to their streaming service, you can sign up for £6.99 per month for the basic package. The broadcast will start in the morning and continue into the early afternoon.

Australia

In Australia, you can stream Il Lombardia’s racing action through SBS. Simply visit the SBS Cycling Central website or use the SBS On Demand App.

Are you going to watch Il Lombardia this year? Let us know your favorite part of the race and who you think will claim the victory! ★