CCC Sprandi Polkowice has announced the selection for the final UCI World Tour event – Il Lombardia.

"Davide Rebellin showed in the Coppa Agostoni, where he conquered the victory, and in Tre Valli Varesine that he is well prepared for the last part of the season. On his home soil in such a big race, he will want to take advantage of the good form and will try to finish with the strongest. Maciej Paterski had a good race in world championship in Richmond, so he also should do well in Lombardy.

"This is our last important and prestigious race this season, so we want to give our best. This season has been very successful  for our team and it would be nice to end it on a high note," Piotr Wadecki, sporting director of CCC Sprandi Polkowice, explains.

Three riders from the eight-man roster have already raced the Lombard monument. Davide Rebellin was 2nd in 2002 and was twice 5th. Sylwester Szmyd stood at the start as many as 11 times, while Maciej Paterski took 19th place five years ago.

The line-up for Il Lombardia is almost the same as for Tre Valli Varesine, where Rebellin took 11th place. The only change involves Maciej Paterski substituting Christian Delle Stelle. Paterski didn’t start in the 1.HC event due to the time change and return from the world championships in the USA.

Il Lombardia will kick off from Bergamo and after covering 245 kilometers the riders will arrive in Como. The profile is very demanding since the route is filled with steep climbs. The most difficult one is located approximately 50 kilometers from the finish - Colma di Sormano. The maximum slope there reaches 25-27%. The race however, may be decided on the final climb - San Fermo d. Battagla. Although it’s just 2,5 kilometers long, the maximum gradient is 10% and the summit is only 5 kilometers from the line. The finish is flat.

Line-up for Il Lombardia:

Davide Rebellin, Maciej Paterski, Stefan Schumacher, Sylwester Szmyd, Adrian Honkisz, Łukasz Owsian, Jan Hirt, Leszek Pluciński