Il Lombardia (formerly known as the Giro di Lombardia), “Classica delle foglie morte” (the classic of the dead [falling] leaves), is traditionally the last of the five classic “Monuments” of the cycling season.
The first edition was 1905. It was then called Milan-Milan. It gained the name “Giro di Lombardia” in 1907. The route has changed many times. Milan, Sesto San Giovanni, Bergamo, Varese, Monza, Como have been start or finish place.
Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp), the nephew of former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche won the Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2013 edition, outsprinting Katusha Team’s Joaquim Rodríguez. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) won the sprint in the small chasing group and took third place.
Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) won the Flanders classic Brabantse Pijl 2013 (see notes 1) edition. Current UCI World Champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) finished in second, and Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM) completed the podium.