The Gran Fondo Il Lombardia 2018 will take place on Sunday, October 14. Starting from Como, it features three iconic climbs: the Ghisallo, the Sormano with Muro and Colma and finally, the Civiglio. Registration is still open at www.gfilombardia.it, to join the 1,200 starters who have already registered, and Joaquim Rodriguez, double winner of Il Lombardia, who will be at the start and has shared his insight on facing and enjoying the course.
The three main climbs of the spectacular 2018 Gran Fondo Il Lombardia are the Madonna del Ghisallo, the Sormano with Muro and Colma, and the Civiglio – the climb that decided the last edition of Il Lombardia won by Vincenzo Nibali – before the finish line after 101.3km. For riders who decide not to face the Colma di Somano, there’s an alternative course of 103.6km. Registrations are open on www.gfilombardia.it. Enel, a partner sponsor in all RCS Sport’s pro cycling races, will be the Presenting Sponsor.
QUOTES
Joaquim “Purito” Rodriguez said: “It’s a very hard and very beautiful course. You need to pace yourself on the climbs but at the same time enjoy fully the wonderful scenery around you. I think that every sportive rider will feel on each pedal stroke the same sensations that the pros felt on the same roads the previous day. It’s almost like the day after El Clásico, Barcelona-Real Madrid, if the fans had the chance to go and play on the very same pitch. But in football you can’t! Only cycling, with events as beautiful as this, gives these kinds of opportunities.”
Andrea Trabuio, RCS Sport Head of Mass Events Area, said: “For the second consecutive year we are glad to present the Gran Fondo, following the success of the previous edition. This year we have already 1,200 registered starters and, considering we are one month away from the event, we expect the number to vastly increase. The marriage in between the pro and the sportive race, as we’ve also seen at the Strade Bianche, is a winning formula that benefits both cyclists and the events’ territories. In this occasion we worked with the local authorities to create a new finish line on the top of the Civiglio climb, a spectacular finish that will also enable us to avoid traffic congestion in the city centre and guarantee the safety of all the participants.”
DETAILS
Date: Sunday, October 14, 2018
Start: Como (CO), viale Vittorio Veneto (7.30am)
Finish: Civiglio (CO), via dei Patrioti
Technical Area, Headquarters and bibs collection: Como (CO), viale Puecher
COURSE
Gran Fondo Il Lombardia – 101.3km
Gran Fondo Il Lombardia / option without the Colma di Sormano – 103.6km
Cost includes: Race Bib, Frame Number, Timekeeping, Official Race Kit, Technical Gadget as part of the Race Kit, Course Monitoring, Mechanical Assistance (spare parts not included), Race Medical Assistance (7 ambulances, 1 medical car, 4 doctors and 20 nurses), 3 Feeding Stations along the course, Broom Wagon Service, Pasta Party at the technical area, and showers at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium.
