With just a few weeks remaining of the 2025 cycling season, there isn’t much left on the Bahrain Victorious race calendar. However, fans and riders can still expect plenty of action and emotion … starting this weekend with the last Monument of the season, Il Lombardia.

Tradition dictates that Como and Bergamo alternate as start and finish towns, and for this 119th edition the peloton sets off from the southern tip of Italy’s third largest lake: Lago di Como. There are 4,748 vertical metres across the 241 km, and seven official categorised climbs, on the same route used in 2023.

The bunch will first tackle the iconic Ghisallo climb, (8.8km at 3.9%) before descending into the picturesque town of Bellagio and reaching Lecco. Once in the province of Bergamo, they will face a relentless sequence of climbs and descents, with barely any flat sections in between. Key ascents include the Roncola (with gradients up to 17%), Berbenno, Dossena, Zambla Alta, and Passo di Ganda.

The descents are equally demanding, particularly the technical one from Selvino, which features 19 hairpins. The final nine flat kilometres toward Bergamo will serve as the approach to the decisive finale: the climb through Città Alta (Bergamo’s upper town), with cobblestones and ramps up to 12%, followed by a fast descent to the finish line in the heart of of the city.

Sports Director Roman Kreuziger shared his thoughts ahead of the race:

“It’s a beautiful race for climbers. Il Lombardia—no matter where it starts or finishes—is always a Monument defined by elevation and difficulty. This edition starts in Como and finishes in Bergamo, tackling the famous Ghisallo after 40 km and then a series of challenging climbs around Bergamo. The final cobbled ascent through Bergamo Alta is really tough, followed by the descent into the finish.

It’s the last Monument of the season, and it’s important to approach it with the same focus as the first. Riders must stay concentrated from start to finish, knowing it’s the final big effort of the year for many of them.

The level of competition will be incredible, with the best riders in the world—Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, and Tom Pidcock—all in top form. Our target is a top-eight finish, which is ambitious but realistic if everything comes together.

Among our younger riders, Afonso Eulálio has shown strong improvement throughout the Italian campaign. After struggling at Emilia, he performed better at Tre Valli and continues to feel stronger each day. I expect him to be one of the last helpers for Lenny Martinez and Antonio Tiberi, who are both in good condition. It’s October, so day-by-day form matters, but we believe one of them can achieve our goal.

Our experienced men, like Damiano Caruso and Pello Bilbao, are always reliable. They bring consistency and high standards, and Pello will serve as road captain, ensuring everyone is well-positioned at the key moments.

Edoardo Zambanini, who just finished sixth at Gran Piemonte, has shown great form recently and will play an important role in positioning the team for the Passo di Ganda, which will be a crucial point in the race.

Moreover we have Rainer Kepplinger joining as the freshest rider, ready to support the team for as long as possible. 

We have a solid team and know we’ll face strong contenders, but patience and smart energy management will be key. If we stay focused and fuelled throughout, I’m confident we can deliver another strong performance to close the season.”