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Il Lombardia line-up, the final Monument
The season almost draws to an end. It’s been an amazing year in which the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team was invited to two Grand Tours, all major one-day Classics and achieved 14 wins. With the invitation to Il Lombardia, we got to ride all five of cycling’s Monuments this year.
Lining up for this iconic race will be: Xabier Mikel Azparren (ESP), Gianluca Brambilla (ITA), Walter Calzoni (ITA), Marcel Camprubí (ESP), Tom Pidcock (GBR), Milan Vader (NED) and Nick Zukowsky (CAN).
10 September 2025
Sports director Gabriele Missaglia is looking forward to Saturday’s race because this is his home region.
“Il Lombardia is always a special day, a proud moment. This year it’s even more special because with Tom we have a rider who can do really well. We did the recon of the last 150 kilometers on Wednesday. Tom feels good after Tuesday’s race where he sadly punctured at one kilometer to go. We also have a great team to support him.”
Il Lombardia is 238 kilometers long this year, with start in Como and finish in Bergamo. This means the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo is at the start and we have Passo di Ganda as last major climb instead of Muro di Sormano.
“I think this version is harder than the one with finish in Como,” Missaglia says. “I know all the climbs and they are not easy, especially not Passo di Ganda. I feel that the race might already explode on the Roncola, after a 100 kilometers, so it’s important we have someone in the early break ready to anticipate. The others stay close to Tom as long as possible. The weather looks good, the riders are ready and I can’t wait for Saturday’s race.”
This year it’s even more special because with Tom we have a rider who can do really well.
Tom Pidcock lines up for his first Il Lombardia. It is the last of the five cycling’s Monuments he hasn’t done yet but being a debutant doesn’t means he doesn’t have ambitions.
“It’s my first time racing Il Lombardia, so it’s a new experience for me. I haven’t done many of these late-season races before, but I’ve really enjoyed them this year, even if I’m feeling a bit of fatigue from a long season. It’s obviously a very demanding race with lots of climbing, and it’s going to be an attritional day. Staying fuelled, keeping cool, and maintaining good positioning will all be key.”
It won’t be the last race of the season for the British rider who already won five races in the jersey of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, and achieved an amazing podium spot in the Vuelta one month ago. After Il Lombardia Pidcock flies to Maastricht, the Netherlands to take the start in the UCI Gravel World Championships. It’s quite a new event on the calendar but as a former MTB and Cyclocross world champion it’s right up Pidcock’s alley.
“The Gravel World Championships is also something I’m really looking forward to. My main focus is of course on Il Lombardia, but I’ll stay sharp for an extra day — especially with the beautiful new Pinarello gravel bike I get to ride. I’m looking forward to doing well in the race.”
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