Pogačar returns to defend title at Il Lombardia

Fresh from victory at the Tre Valli Varesine, UAE Team Emirates head into the final part of the season with a keen focus on the final monument of the year : Il Lombardia (8 Oct) where defending champion Tadej Pogačar will return to defend his title supported by a strong block of climbers.

Previous to Lombardia will be Gran Piemonte (6 Oct) as the Emirati squad will take another block of riders to Paris Bourges (6 Oct) and Paris-Tours (9 Oct) in France.

Defending champion Tadej Pogačar leads the line at Il Lombardia in a squad which features an ensemble of climbing talent ahead of Il Lombardia where the Slovenian will hope to defend his title on Sunday.

Paris-Bourges and Paris-Tours are traditionally races for the sprinters and rouleurs with Pascal Ackermann aiming to take advantage of these late-season opportunities.

Pogačar : “I’m excited for Il Lombardia. It’s a different route this year but in a race like this with the strength of the field we know will be hard regardless. I think the condition is where it needs to be heading into the race and the team is really strong too. It’s a beautiful race to finish off what has been a really nice season. ”

The teams in Italy will be overseen by Team Manager Joxean Matxin Fernandez (Spa) alongside Sports Directors Fabio Baldato (Ita) Marco Marcato (Ita) and Marco Marzano (Ita), while Aart Vierhouten (Ned) will guide the squad in France.

Il Lombardia [1.UWT] – 08-Oct-2022

Joao Almeida (Por)
Alessandro Covi(Ita)
Davide Formolo (Ita)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Rafal Majka (Pol)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Diego Ulissi (Ita)

Gran Piemonte [1.Pro] – 06-Oct-2022

Alessandro Covi (Ita)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
Arthur Kluckers (Lux)
Matteo Trentin (Ita)
Jan Polanc (Slo)
Paris – Bourges [1.1] – 06-Oct-2022

Pascal Ackermann (Ger)
Kasper Andersen (Den)
Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
Fernando Gaviria (Col)
Felix Gross (Ger)
Oliver Knight (GB)
Oliviero Troia (Ita)

Paris – Tours Elite [1.Pro] – 09-Oct-2022
Pascal Ackermann (Ger)
Kasper Andersen (Den)
Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
Fernando Gaviria (Col)
Oliver Knight (GB)
Rui Oliveira (Por)
Matteo Trentin (Ita)