Il Lombardia 2025: Pogi Chasing the Record, Evenepoel Out to Spoil the Party. And Del Toro…
# Il Lombardia 2025: Pogačar’s Record Quest and Evenepoel’s Disruption
As the excitement builds for Il Lombardia 2025, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown. Tadej Pogačar is chasing a remarkable record, while Remco Evenepoel is determined to spoil the festivities for the favorites. The event promises a wide array of contenders, with a diverse mix of talent ready to vie for the podium.
Among the primary challengers is Primož Roglič from Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe. Despite a lackluster first season in his new team colors, Roglič showcased his competitive spirit with a 3rd place finish in 2023, also in Bergamo. This year, he benefits from a less pressured environment and the support of a strong team featuring Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov—who placed 3rd in 2020—and the promising young rider Giulio Pellizzari.
Tom Pidcock from Q36.5 will enter the race with renewed confidence after his podium finish at the Vuelta a España and a commendable 2nd place at Giro dell’Emilia. Meanwhile, Ben Healy of EF Education–EasyPost, a World Championship bronze medalist, is expected to co-lead the team with Richard Carapaz, showcasing immense potential.
Riders like Mattias Skjelmose from Lidl–Trek, who secured 4th at the Worlds and 7th at the Euros, bring extra depth to the competitive lineup. He’s notably one of the few competitors to have outsmarted Pogačar and Evenepoel at the Amstel Gold Race. Rising star Paul Seixas from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, finishing 3rd at the Europeans, adds further intrigue to the mix.
Veteran Julian Alaphilippe from Tudor will seek to defy his long absence from the podium, last making the top three back in 2017. Additionally, Lenny Martinez of Bahrain Victorious has excelled in recent Italian Classics, making him a potential threat.
As the list of outsiders continues to expand, Oscar Onley from Picnic PostNL, who finished 4th at this year’s Tour de France, and riders like Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla), Einer Rubio (Movistar), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Neilson Powless (EF Education–EasyPost), and Bauke Mollema (Lidl–Trek, 2019 winner and recent 3rd place finisher at GranPiemonte) each bring their own strengths.
Other notable racers, including Romain Grégoire (Groupama–FDJ) and the Visma | Lease a Bike duo of Cian Uijtdebroecks and Ben Tulett, further enrich an already competitive field.
As the cycling world gears up for this prestigious event, all eyes will be on Pogačar and Evenepoel, while numerous other contenders are poised to make their mark. The 2025 Il Lombardia promises to be a race filled with surprises and thrilling competition.
