Il Lombardia

A solid start to the post-pandemic season, with top sixes in Tour de l’Ain and Route d’Occitanie, puts Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek- Segafredo) in a prime spot to repeat his win in last year’s Il Lombardia. But to do that he will have to contend with team-mate Vincenzo Nibali, who is also due to line up in Bergamo on Saturday and, as a previous two-time winner, will be one of the most successful riders on the starting grid.

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“It will be super-difficult but I feel like I’m in good form,” Mollema said. I did two races last week and they went pretty well. I think I have the level to be up there again in the final.”

The Dutchman felt that he had come out of lockdown well, but he certainly wasn’t alone in that respect. “I’ve been feeling pretty good in training for a few months, but I think everybody’s been training super-hard – probably harder than we would in the winter,” he said.

While Il Lombardia follows a well-worn route again this year, its place in the calendar could not be more different. Usually the final European WorldTour race, there will be many more big races to come this time round – including the Tour de France – casting this hilly Italian Monument in a new light.