Two-time Olympic Champion Remco Evenepoel headlines our seven-man squad for Saturday’s appointment.
Il Lombardia isn’t just the last Monument of the season, it’s also our team’s final race on European soil. Traveling from Bergamo to Como, the 252km route comprises eight climbs: Forcellino di Banzano, Passo di Ganda, Colle di Berbenno, Valpiana, Sella di Osgio, Madonna del Ghisallo, Cima di Sormano and San Fermo della Battaglia. Sormano will be climbed from a different side this time and a major selection could happen on its slopes, while San Fermo is set to be crested with just five kilometers to go, from its top only a fast descent remaining until the finish.
At the previous participations here, Soudal Quick-Step racked up a total of five podiums – including Paolo Bettini’s back-to-back victories – and our squad will look to get again a good result at the Italian Monument, which this year runs its 118th edition – the second-longest of the last decade.
Our team for Il Lombardia will consist of Mattia Cattaneo, Remco Evenepoel, last year’s Piccolo Lombardia winner William Junior Lecerf, Fausto Masnada – runner-up here in 2021 – Pieter Serry, Ilan Van Wilder and Mauri Vansevenant.
“It goes without saying that on Saturday we’ll take on one of the toughest races of the season. The eight climbs on the course will gradually whittle down the peloton, and the presence of Sormano – the longest ascent of the day – inside the last 60 kilometers is sure to light up the race. We aren’t starting as the main favourites, but we are determined to do a good race, show the Wolfpack spirit and score a solid result as we bring down the curtain over our European season”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Davide Bramati.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
Pieter Serry 
Mattia Cattaneo 
