Il Lombardia plot
"A tribute to the classic of the falling leaves."
As the air begins to fill with the heavy smell of autumn, the last heavy cycling classic of the season is being ridden. The first leaves are falling and unavoidable rain showers announce themselves in the hilly landscape of northern Italy. Riders and followers are preparing for the dramatic final chord of the cycling season: the Tour of Lombardy. Tough climbs, numerous hairpin bends and gradients of up to 17 percent. A more than worthy end to the season, which is also known as the Tour of the Falling Leaves. For more than a hundred years, the Tour of Lombardy has been a race that appeals to the imagination. Italian cycling heroes such as Bartali, Coppi and Moser climbed the highest podium here. But greats such as Merckx, Hinault, and Kelly also grace the honors list.