Let’s face it, it will feel very strange not to see Tadej Pogačar on the top step of the Il Lombardia podium. The Slovenian has won the last five editions, and the last time the race was held without him was in 2020, when the Classic of the Falling Leaves took place in August due to the Covid pandemic and was won by Jakob Fuglsang. In the meantime, an entire generation of riders has practically come and gone.
In many ways, it could be a repeat of the hugely entertaining World Championships in Montréal, because without Tadej, absolutely anything could happen. UAE Team Emirates-XRG will, as always, be a formidable force, not least because they have the new world champion Brandon McNulty in their ranks, but also because Isaac Del Toro is determined to claim the first Monument victory of his career. At GranPiemonte, despite missing out on the win, he showed that he has the legs to put on a spectacular show.
Find out who the key riders are for Il Lombardia presented by Crédit Agricole 2026.
