Il Lombardia 2026 has a very different tactical shape from the previous five editions. Tadej Pogačar is absent after his season-ending Vuelta a España crash, so the race arrives in Como without the rider who has controlled this Monument since 2021. That opens the door to a much deeper group of potential winners and puts far more pressure on the strongest teams to decide how aggressively they want to race the final 60 kilometres.
The 2026 Il Lombardia route covers 239km from Bergamo to Como with around 4,600 metres of climbing. Ghisallo starts the decisive phase, but the race should really be shaped by the finishing circuit: San Fermo della Battaglia, Civiglio and then San Fermo again before the descent into Como.
The full Il Lombardia 2026 start list contains 25 teams and 175 riders. This guide looks at how each squad is likely to approach the race, who should be protected and where their best chance of winning may come.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Leaders: Brandon McNulty, Isaac del Toro
Other key riders: Jan Christen, Pavel Sivakov, A Yates
Squad: Brandon McNulty, Jan Christen, Isaac del Toro, Felix Grossschartner, Domen Novak, Pavel Sivakov, A Yates
UAE arrive without Pogačar but still have the deepest climbing group in the race. McNulty brings the rainbow jersey after winning the World Championships in Montréal, and he has continued racing aggressively in Italy. Del Toro gives them a second rider who can win outright, while Christen, Sivakov and A Yates give UAE enough depth to start forcing other teams to respond before Civiglio.
The obvious danger for their rivals is numbers. UAE do not need to wait for a final showdown between McNulty and Evenepoel. They can send Del Toro or Christen up the road, keep McNulty protected behind, and force Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe or Lidl-Trek to do the chasing.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Leader: Luca Vergallito
Other options: Francesco Busatto, Michael Gogl
Squad: Ramses Debruyne, Francesco Busatto, Aaron Dockx, Michael Gogl, Hugo Houle, Luca Vergallito, Emiel Verstrynge
Alpecin-Premier Tech do not have one of the main favourites, so their race needs to become unpredictable. Vergallito is the best climbing card for the finale, while Busatto has the finishing speed to become relevant if a larger group survives deeper than expected.
Gogl and Houle give them experienced riders for early moves. Their best route to a top result is probably to anticipate the favourites rather than waiting until Civiglio, where the pure climbing depth of the bigger teams becomes much harder to match.
Bahrain Victorious
Leaders: Lenny Martinez, Santiago Buitrago
Other key riders: Pello Bilbao, Antonio Tiberi, Jakob Omrzel
Squad: Lenny Martinez, Pello Bilbao, Santiago Buitrago, Fran Miholjević, Jakob Omrzel, Antonio Tiberi, Edoardo Zambanini
Bahrain have one of the few squads that can match UAE and Red Bull for pure climbing depth. Martinez and Buitrago are the most obvious winning options, but Bilbao and Tiberi give the team enough protection against an early tactical split.
The question is whether Bahrain want to wait. Civiglio suits Martinez and Buitrago, but letting Evenepoel, McNulty and Pidcock reach that climb with full support may reduce their chances. Omrzel gives them a younger rider who can be used in an earlier move without weakening the main leadership group.
VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè
Key riders: Martin Marcellusi, Luca Covili
Squad: Manuele Tarozzi, Luca Covili, Martin Marcellusi, Alessio Martinelli, Luca Paletti, Vicente Rojas Naranjo, Filippo Turconi
Bardiani’s race is about getting ahead of the favourites. Marcellusi has the best one-day profile in the group, while Covili is the rider most likely to survive if the race is reduced by sustained climbing rather than explosive attacks.
A long-range move through the middle section is the obvious route. Waiting for San Fermo and Civiglio would leave them racing directly against teams with far more firepower.
Cofidis
Leader: Dylan Teuns
Other options: Sylvain Moniquet, Sergio Samitier
Listed squad: Ion Izagirre, Valentin Ferron, Sam Maisonobe, Sylvain Moniquet, Sergio Samitier, Dylan Teuns, Edoardo Zamperini
Teuns is the clearest Cofidis threat because he can survive a selective race and still finish quickly from a small group. Moniquet and Samitier give the team options to move before the finale rather than spending the entire day protecting one rider.
The organiser list still includes Ion Izagirre, but his broken wrist has ended his season and he will not start. Cofidis therefore have at least one late change to make before Saturday.
Decathlon CMA CGM Team
Leaders: Paul Seixas, Aurélien Paret-Peintre
Other key riders: Léo Bisiaux, Tiesj Benoot
Squad: Paul Seixas, Tiesj Benoot, Léo Bisiaux, Noa Isidore, Jordan Labrosse, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Nicolas Prodhomme
Decathlon’s selection is one of the most interesting because it mixes young climbing talent with proven one-day experience. Seixas is the rider with the biggest upside, while Paret-Peintre gives them a dependable option for a race decided by pure climbing strength.
Benoot is tactically important because he can move before the final climbs and force other teams to chase. Bisiaux gives Decathlon another rider who should still be present deep into the race. This is a squad that should benefit from making Lombardia hard early rather than preserving everyone for one leader.
EF Education-EasyPost
Leaders: Richard Carapaz, Ben Healy
Other key riders: Neilson Powless, Lukas Nerurkar
Squad: Richard Carapaz, Alex Baudin, Ben Healy, Lukas Nerurkar, Neilson Powless, Sean Quinn, Jardi van der Lee
EF have a team built to disrupt the race. Carapaz is their best option if the favourites arrive together at Civiglio, but Healy and Powless are much more dangerous if the race begins breaking apart before then.
That gives EF an obvious tactical plan: attack before the final circuit and make the strongest teams choose whether to chase. Nerurkar adds another climbing option and reduces the need to sacrifice everyone around Carapaz too early.
Groupama-FDJ United
Leaders: Guillaume Martin, Valentin Madouas
Other options: Clément Berthet, Quentin Pacher
Squad: Rudy Molard, Clément Berthet, Tom Donnenwirth, Valentin Madouas, Guillaume Martin, Quentin Pacher, Brieuc Rolland
Martin is the best pure climber in the group, while Madouas gives Groupama-FDJ United a rider who can handle both a difficult race and a small-group finish. Berthet and Pacher add depth without forcing the team into a single-leader approach.
Their strongest chance probably comes from moving early on the Como circuit. If Martin is still with Evenepoel, McNulty and Pidcock at the foot of Civiglio, the team has done well, but it is a much harder race to win from there.
Photo Credit: GettyLidl-Trek
Leaders: Giulio Ciccone, Juan Ayuso
Danger rider: Quinn Simmons
Squad: Giulio Ciccone, Juan Ayuso, Andrea Bagioli, Patrick Konrad, Bauke Mollema, Sam Oomen, Quinn Simmons
Lidl-Trek have one of the most tactically flexible teams in the race. Ciccone and Ayuso can both win if the Monument is decided by climbing strength, while Simmons is the rider rivals cannot afford to give freedom before the final circuit.
Simmons’ presence changes the calculation for everyone else. If he attacks on the run towards Ghisallo or between Ghisallo and Como, UAE and Red Bull have to decide whether to chase themselves. That can leave Ciccone and Ayuso fresher for Civiglio.
Lotto-Intermarché
Leaders: Jarno Widar, Lennert Van Eetvelt
Other options: Georg Zimmermann, Reuben Thompson
Squad: Lennert Van Eetvelt, Lars Craps, Simone Gualdi, Lorenzo Rota, Reuben Thompson, Jarno Widar, Georg Zimmermann
Widar arrives in strong form after winning Tre Valli Varesine, and that immediately makes him more than a development rider here. He has the climbing acceleration to follow moves on Civiglio and enough finishing speed to become dangerous if a small group stays together.
Van Eetvelt gives Lotto-Intermarché a second protected rider, while Zimmermann and Thompson can be used to anticipate. This is a team that should not be afraid to race for more than a top 10.
MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort
Leaders: Fausto Masnada, Alessandro Fancellu
Squad: Luca Cretti, Márton Dina, Alessandro Fancellu, Florian Kajamini, Lorenzo Masciarelli, Fausto Masnada, Alessandro Verre
Masnada knows how to survive difficult Italian one-day races and is the logical reference point, while Fancellu gives the team a younger climbing option. Their best chance is likely to come from being represented in the break before the favourites start using their numbers.
Kajamini and Verre can also contribute to that aggressive approach. The race becomes much harder for them if everything stays together until the final 30 kilometres.
Photo Credit: GettyMovistar Team
Leader: Enric Mas
Other key riders: Roger Adrià, Jefferson Cepeda, Einer Rubio
Squad: Enric Mas, Roger Adrià, Carlos Canal, Jefferson Cepeda, Juan Pedro López, Diego Pescador, Einer Rubio
Mas is the obvious leader and one of the strongest pure climbers on the start list, but the shape of the final kilometres is not perfect for him. If he waits until the final San Fermo, riders with better acceleration and descending may have the advantage.
That makes Civiglio the key point for Movistar. Cepeda, Rubio and López give them enough climbing support to keep Mas protected until then, while Adrià is the rider who can be sent ahead to change the tactical picture.
Netcompany INEOS
Leaders: Oscar Onley, Egan Bernal
Other key riders: Thymen Arensman, Carlos Rodríguez
Squad: Egan Bernal, Thymen Arensman, Jack Haig, Lucas Hamilton, Michal Kwiatkowski, Oscar Onley, Carlos Rodríguez
INEOS bring a classic climbing block. Onley has the speed and explosiveness that suit the final circuit particularly well, while Bernal, Arensman and Rodríguez give the team multiple riders capable of surviving a hard Civiglio.
The key question is whether they can turn depth into pressure. Kwiatkowski remains valuable as the rider who can move before the final climbs and force rivals to work, but the team should avoid simply carrying four climbers into a final where Evenepoel and McNulty can attack first.
NSN Cycling Team
Leaders: George Bennett, Pau Martí
Other options: Jan Hirt, Nicholas Schultz
Squad: George Bennett, Pier-André Côté, Jan Hirt, Pau Martí, Nicholas Schultz, Dion Smith, Floris Van Tricht
NSN do not have one of the outright favourites, so their strength lies in sending different riders into different phases of the race. Bennett and Hirt are the best climbing references, while Martí gives them a younger rider with freedom to move aggressively.
Schultz is also suited to a race where the decisive move may begin before the steepest climb. Their chances improve considerably if the favourites start looking at one another after Ghisallo.
Photo Credit: GettyPinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
Leader: Tom Pidcock
Key support: Quinten Hermans, Damien Howson, Xandro Meurisse
Squad: Tom Pidcock, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Marcel Camprubí, Mark Donovan, Quinten Hermans, Damien Howson, Xandro Meurisse
Pidcock is one of the riders most naturally suited to the 2026 finale. He can climb with the favourites, descend aggressively and sprint from a small group, so there is no obvious tactical reason for him to attack early unless Evenepoel or McNulty force the issue.
His recent ride at Tre Valli Varesine showed the form is there. Hermans and Meurisse are important because they can help keep Pidcock out of tactical trouble before Civiglio, while Howson gives him climbing support deeper into the race.
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
Leader: Remco Evenepoel
Other key riders: Primož Roglič, Jai Hindley, Florian Lipowitz, Giulio Pellizzari
Squad: Remco Evenepoel, Giovanni Aleotti, Mattia Cattaneo, Jai Hindley, Florian Lipowitz, Giulio Pellizzari, Primož Roglič
Evenepoel starts as the clearest single favourite after winning the European Championships, but Red Bull’s real advantage is how many elite climbing options sit behind him. Roglič, Hindley, Lipowitz and Pellizzari mean the team can answer almost any move without immediately exposing Evenepoel.
The key tactical question is whether they want to control or attack. If Evenepoel reaches Civiglio protected, he can try to ride everyone off the wheel. But with UAE likely to use numbers, Red Bull may need Roglič or Pellizzari to move first and stop the race becoming a series of attacks that Evenepoel has to answer personally.
Soudal Quick-Step
Leader: Mikel Landa
Other options: Filippo Zana, Mauri Vansevenant
Squad: Mikel Landa, Gianmarco Garofoli, Andrea Raccagni Noviero, Maximilian Schachmann, Mauri Vansevenant, Louis Vervaeke, Filippo Zana
Landa is the clearest climbing leader, but Soudal should not build the entire race around waiting for Civiglio. Vansevenant and Zana give them riders who can attack earlier, while Schachmann can help bridge the gap between the flatter tactical phases and the final climbing block.
Raccagni Noviero’s recent third at Coppa Agostoni also gives them a rider in form for an aggressive move. Their best result probably comes from having somebody ahead before the biggest favourites begin racing directly against one another.
Photo Credit: GettyTeam Jayco-AlUla
Leaders: Michael Matthews, Felix Engelhardt
Other options: Alessandro Covi, Alan Hatherly
Squad: Michael Matthews, Koen Bouwman, Alessandro Covi, Davide De Pretto, Felix Engelhardt, Anders Foldager, Alan Hatherly
Matthews gives Jayco-AlUla a different route to victory from most teams. If the race is controlled enough for him to survive Civiglio within touching distance, his sprint becomes extremely dangerous. The problem is that almost every rival knows the same thing.
That puts extra importance on Engelhardt and Covi. Jayco need them to follow or create moves before the final climb, because Matthews cannot afford a race where UAE and Red Bull repeatedly attack until only the purest climbers remain.
Team Picnic PostNL
Leaders: Frank van den Broek, Warren Barguil
Other options: Alexy Faure Prost, Mattia Gaffuri
Squad: Mattia Gaffuri, Warren Barguil, Alexy Faure Prost, Chris Hamilton, Gijs Leemreize, Oliver Peace, Frank van den Broek
Van den Broek has the best combination of climbing and one-day ability in the squad, while Barguil brings experience in exactly this type of long, selective race. Picnic PostNL are unlikely to control the peloton, so their best chance is to have riders ahead before the final circuit.
Faure Prost and Gaffuri give them additional options to race aggressively. A top result is more likely to come through anticipation than by waiting for the main favourites.
Team Polti VisitMalta
Key riders: Andrea Pietrobon, Ludovico Crescioli
Squad: Diego Pablo Sevilla López, Davide Bais, Mattia Bais, Ludovico Crescioli, Francisco Muñoz Llana, Andrea Pietrobon, Alessandro Tonelli
Polti’s race is almost entirely about the breakaway. Pietrobon and Crescioli are the riders most likely to remain competitive once the climbing begins, but the team cannot afford to wait for the favourites’ race to start.
The Bais brothers and Tonelli give them experienced riders for the early move. Getting two riders into a large break would be a better outcome than preserving everyone for the final 40 kilometres.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
Leaders: Davide Piganzoli, Matteo Jorgenson
Other key riders: Ben Tulett, Tijmen Graat, Louis Barré
Squad: Davide Piganzoli, Bruno Armirail, Louis Barré, Tijmen Graat, Matteo Jorgenson, Tim Rex, Ben Tulett
Piganzoli gives Visma | Lease a Bike a rider in excellent Italian form, while Jorgenson brings the broader one-day experience. Tulett and Graat make this one of the more underrated climbing groups in the race.
Visma do not have to nominate one leader too early. They can use Barré or Graat in an earlier move and keep Piganzoli, Jorgenson and Tulett protected for the final circuit. Their chances improve if the race becomes complicated rather than a straight strength test between Evenepoel and McNulty.
Photo Credit: GettyTudor Pro Cycling Team
Leaders: Michael Storer, Marc Hirschi
Other key rider: Mathys Rondel
Squad: Michael Storer, Marc Hirschi, Mathys Rondel, Florian Stork, Yannis Voisard, Larry Warbasse, Fabian Weiss
Tudor have a particularly useful two-leader combination. Storer is better suited to a brutally selective climbing race, while Hirschi becomes more dangerous if a small group reaches the final kilometres together.
Rondel gives them another climber capable of moving before the finale. Tudor do not need to spend the day defending one rider, and that freedom may be their biggest weapon against the WorldTour teams expected to control the race.
Unibet Rose Rockets
Leader: Wouter Poels
Other options: Odd Christian Eiking, Cedrik Bakke Christophersen
Squad: Wouter Poels, Cedrik Bakke Christophersen, Odd Christian Eiking, Eivind Broholt Fougner, Owen Geleijn, Sergio Meris, Jannis Peter
Poels is the obvious reference point and still has the climbing quality to become relevant if he reaches the final circuit in the right group. Eiking gives Unibet another experienced option for a long-range move.
Their best chance is to avoid being passive. Once UAE and Red Bull begin riding at full speed on the final climbs, it becomes much harder for the team to create opportunities from behind.
Uno-X Mobility
Leaders: Tobias Halland Johannessen, Andreas Leknessund
Other key riders: Andreas Kron, Johannes Kulset
Squad: Tobias Halland Johannessen, Anthon Charmig, Simon Dalby, Andreas Kron, Johannes Kulset, Andreas Leknessund, Anders Skaarseth
Johannessen is the clearest leader, but Uno-X have enough climbing depth to avoid a simple protect-the-captain race. Leknessund and Kulset can both be used before Civiglio, while Kron gives them a rider with a faster finish if the race remains more tactical.
This is exactly the kind of Monument where Uno-X can benefit from numbers if they place riders ahead before the strongest teams take over.
XDS Astana Team
Leaders: Christian Scaroni, Lorenzo Fortunato
Other options: Sergio Higuita, Diego Ulissi
Squad: Christian Scaroni, Nicola Conci, Lorenzo Fortunato, Sergio Higuita, Harold Tejada, Diego Ulissi, Simone Velasco
Astana have one of the deepest second-tier contender groups in the race. Scaroni and Fortunato are the strongest climbing options, Higuita has the acceleration to attack on the steeper ramps, and Ulissi remains dangerous if a larger group survives towards the finish.
The strength of the squad is that they do not need to reveal a single leader early. They can put riders into moves from Ghisallo onwards and still keep two or three options for Civiglio.
Which teams are strongest at Il Lombardia 2026?
UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe have the strongest overall squads. UAE have more freedom because McNulty, Del Toro and Christen can all be used as genuine winning options, while Red Bull have the clearest single leader in Evenepoel and an exceptional group around him.
Lidl-Trek and Bahrain Victorious are the next teams most capable of turning numbers into pressure, while EF Education-EasyPost may be the squad most likely to attack before the obvious final moves. Pinarello-Q36.5 have fewer cards but perhaps the clearest tactical plan of all: keep Pidcock with the favourites and trust his climbing, descending and finishing speed.
The biggest opportunity created by Pogačar’s absence is that no team can simply assume one rider will control the finale. That should encourage attacks before Civiglio and may give riders such as Widar, Seixas, Piganzoli, Onley and Rondel more freedom than they would normally receive in a Monument.
For live coverage details, see how to watch Il Lombardia 2026 in the UK. The history of Il Lombardia also covers the previous winners and the race’s place among cycling’s five Monuments.
