Presented today at the Palazzo della Regione Lombardia in Milan, the Grand Weekend of Il Lombardia, which from October 9th to 11th will conclude the season of major cycling events organized by RCS Sport.  The event was attended by Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region, Paolo Bellino, Chief Executive Officer and General Director of RCS Sports & Events, Luca Guercilena, Chief Operating Officer & Cycling Director of RCS Sports & Events, Matteo Mursia, Chief Revenue Officer of RCS Sports & Events, Alessandro Rapinese, Mayor of Como, Vittorio Ratto, Vice General Director Retail and Digital of Crédit Agricole Italia, Emanuele Cosimelli, CEO of MediaWorld, Luca Onofrio, Head of Mass Events of RCS Sports & Events, Giovanni Bettineschi, representing the Municipality of Bergamo, Damiano Cunego, winner of three editions of Il Lombardia (2004, 2007, 2008), and Norma Gimondi, along with prominent figures from institutions and companies partnering with the Classic of the Dead Leaves.

IL LOMBARDIA PRESENTED BY CRÉDIT AGRICOLE
The weekend will be preceded on October 9th by one of the major innovations of this edition: the teams participating in Il Lombardia presented by Crédit Agricole will be presented at the Sentierone in Bergamo starting at 5 PM.

The 120th edition of the Classic of the Dead Leaves will start on Saturday, October 10th from Bergamo and finish, after 239 kilometers, in Como. Nine climbs are scheduled, for a total elevation gain of 4,600 meters.

Departure from Bergamo heading towards Val Seriana for a short flat section before tackling a series of climbs in the Prealps around the city. The climbs of Colle dei Pasta (Bocche di Gavardo as the descent point) and the climb of Selvino with its series of hairpin turns, Colle di Berbenno and Valpiana which concludes the first series of climbs are connected. A section of the upper Brianza is crossed tackling the "Giovenzana" side of Colle Brianza to descend rapidly towards Lecco. The Como Lake area is reached and climbed from Lecco to arrive at Bellagio where the classic climb of Ghisallo begins. A climb with gradients up to 14% on wide road with several hairpin turns. The descent, very fast, takes place along long straightaways and ends at Maglio to continue in a slight descent until reaching Como where the race will cover a final circuit of 22 km. The town of Como is passed to face San Fermo della Battaglia for the first time (397 m), descend to Como and pass through the finish line. About one kilometer later, the hard climb towards Civiglio (614 m) is tackled with gradients practically always around 10% (note a marked narrowing of the road at the top of the climb) to descend and crossing Como again pass the climb of San Fermo della Battaglia for the second time.

The final 10 km begin within the town of Como, following wide avenues until the railway underpass where the final climb of San Fermo della Battaglia begins. The gradient is around 7% (max 10%) with a narrow road and rough road surface. Several hairpin turns are passed until the descent point which occurs around 5 km from the finish. The descent on wide road, well paved, encounters two well-lit tunnels and two large roundabouts, ending at the final kilometer. At 600 m from the finish, the last wide left turn.

STATEMENTS

Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region: "The Giro di Lombardia is a symbol of our land, an event deeply rooted in our history and our identity. One of the most iconic and prestigious races of all time. A Classic 'Monument' with unique and inimitable charm, awaited and loved by enthusiasts from all over the world. Lombardy, after all, is a cradle of world cycling: here the great competitions were born, here unforgettable champions raced and established themselves, here a cycling tradition developed that still lives today with extraordinary intensity. The Giro di Lombardia best represents the essence of this tradition: a legendary race and at the same time a guarantee of spectacle and international promotion of our territories. A sporting and cultural heritage to be valued more and more. Celebrating the 120th edition of the Giro di Lombardia fills me with pride. A pride, if you allow me, entirely Lombard".

Paolo Bellino, Chief Executive Officer & General Director of RCS Sports & Events: "Il Lombardia represents one of the most prestigious appointments on the RCS Sport calendar and celebrating its 120th edition is a source of great pride. We wanted to transform this occasion into a true Grand Weekend, with the presentation of the teams in the heart of Bergamo and the Felice Gimondi Gran Fondo, which from this year can count on a partner recognized worldwide like MediaWorld, to close a three-day event that will bring to the roads of Lombardia not only the best of world cycling, but also the great community of cycling enthusiasts. Such broad participation will inevitably have a positive impact on the territory, with significant attendance not only along the route, but also in accommodation facilities. A weekend structured in this way involves first and foremost fans and enthusiasts, but also their families, who can take the opportunity to visit the places where, in 120 editions, the myth of Il Lombardia has been written. A great event that celebrates its own history, but which is already ready to write new chapters and celebrate new myths".

Luca Guercilena, Chief Operating Officer & Cycling Director of RCS Sports & Events: "The 120th edition of Il Lombardia once again proposes a historic and identity-rich route. From Bergamo to Como we will cross some of the symbolic places of this long history, with the climbs once again playing a leading role. The finale, with the ascents of Civiglio and San Fermo della Battaglia, will maintain the integrity of the recent tradition of finishes in Como. We expect the participation of most of the big names we will see racing on Sunday at the World Championships in what could be described as almost a rematch of the world championship challenge. We also wanted to include the novelty of the team presentation at the Sentierone, a moment of great value for the public, aimed at creating an even more direct contact between the champions and the city of Bergamo on the eve of the race".

Federica Picchi, Undersecretary with responsibility for Sport and Youth of the Lombardy Region: "The strength of Lombard cycling is born from the union of three elements: ultra-secular history, the difficulty of the climbs and symbolic places. This is what makes a world-class race like Il Lombardia unique, which this year sees the start in Bergamo, crosses the Bergamo valleys and closes in the iconic Como. Lombardy Region supports competitions of this level through the Major Sports Events call, enhancing a tradition that sees Lombardy as the leading region for FIC affiliated societies, 20% of the national total: a figure that confirms the centrality of the territory and the constant commitment of the Federation, institutions and sports organizations".

Alessandro Rapinese, Mayor of Como: "Il Lombardia is now an integral part of our community and represents the quintessence of being Lombard: effort, respect, passion and a healthy lifestyle, but also the ability to enhance and tell the story of our territory. Como and San Fermo have been a central and crucial passage of the race for years, and we are particularly pleased that the circuit is tackled twice. Il Lombardia is the sporting event we are most attached to and which, through magnificent images and the highest level of international promotion, brings the beauty of our territory to the world. As an Administration we are proud to be part of this great event and we thank RCS Sport, the sponsors and all those who contribute to making it such a special appointment every year".

Marcella Messina, Assessor for Social Policies, Longevity, Health and Sport of the Municipality of Bergamo: "For Bergamo it is an honor and a great emotion to host the start of Il Lombardia, which is not only the last Classic Monument of the season, the Classic of the Dead Leaves: it is the history of world cycling. Seeing it start this year from Bergamo, from our Square, to then arrive in Como after over 230 km and almost 5,000 meters of elevation gain, is a recognition of the deep bond this city has with two wheels. Bergamo and cycling are one and the same. It is the land of Felice Gimondi, it is the land of fans, of societies, of volunteers who live cycling all year round. Hosting the start means bringing the greatest champions to the city, millions of television viewers, and generating a very important impact for our tourism and commerce. And this year the emotion is doubled, because for the first time, the day after the professional race, Bergamo will host the Gimondi Gran Fondo. It is a unique opportunity: Saturday the champions, Sunday all of us, on the same roads, in the name of Felice. A weekend that transforms Bergamo into the capital of cycling. As the Sports Department we strongly wanted this double appointment because sport is promotion of the territory, it is health, it is community. I invite all Bergamaschi to take to the streets, to participate, to cheer. It will be an unforgettable celebration".

Vittorio Ratto, Vice General Director Retail and Digital of Crédit Agricole Italia: "Once again this year we proudly support a major event like "Il Lombardia", which has reached its 120th edition. For Crédit Agricole Italia, cycling is not only an extraordinary sport that celebrates commitment, discipline and resilience, but represents a true driver of sustainable, inclusive and lasting development for the territories. Through this partnership, the Group demonstrates closeness to families and businesses, and confirms its commitment to supporting the enhancement of local economies. We want to promote a growth model that encourages environmental well-being for the benefit of communities, in line with our vocation as a proximity bank".

Damiano Cunego: "Il Lombardia is a race that is part of my history and being able to celebrate its 120th edition is a special emotion. The three victories (2004, 2007 and 2008) are among my most beautiful memories. This year will be even more special because I will return to pedal on its roads, this time together with the Gran Fondo enthusiasts. It will be nice to experience Lombardia from another perspective and share these emotions once again with those who love cycling".

THE TEAMS OF IL LOMBARDIA PRESENTED BY CRÉDIT AGRICOLE (25 teams of 7 riders each)

18 UCI WorldTeams
    ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH
    BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
    DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM
    EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST
    GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED
    LIDL-TREK
    LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ
    MOVISTAR TEAM
    NETCOMPANY INEOS
    NSN CYCLING TEAM
    RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE
    SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
    TEAM JAYCO ALULA
    TEAM PICNIC POSTNL
    TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
    UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG
    UNO-X MOBILITY
    XDS ASTANA TEAM

3 UCI ProTeams Qualified based on 2025 Ranking
    COFIDIS
    PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM
    TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM

4 Wild Cards
    BARDIANI CSF 7 SABER
    MBH BANK CSB TELECOM FORT
    TEAM POLTI VISITMALTA
    UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS