Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) pulled off a stunning repeat of his 2015 victory in Il Lombardia two years later, using the same finale and similar tactics to take out the 50th win of his career in Como.
The Italian bridged across to Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) on the penultimate climb and then used his superior descending skills not only to distance Pinot but to build up an unassailable lead on the chasers.
By the time the group came together to launch a cohesive chase, Nibali was too far gone. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) attacked out of the group to take second, with Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) taking third in the sprint.
Il Lombardia (formerly the Giro di Lombardia) may no longer be the curtain closer for the WorldTour but it remains one of the final major one-day race of the calendar and attracts a line-up to match.
Changes have been made to the route with 4,000 metres of climbing ahead of the riders on October 7. The route has been reversed from last year’s edition, starting out in Bergamo this season and finishing Como.
The first ascent of the day is the Colle Gallo after 48 kilometres with the Colle Brianza coming almost 50 kilometres later. The last 70 kilometres include the Madonna del Ghisallo, the Muro di Sormano, the Civiglio and finally the San Fermo della Battaglia. Nibali was the winner in 2015 when the race last used this route, breaking free of his companions on the Civiglio and making use of the descent to extend his advantage.
