Michele Scarponi demonstrated very good condition in last Sunday in the World Championship race and will be looking to continue his splendid form in the race of the falling leaves. Diego Ulissi takes to the start after his outstanding victory in Milano-Torino in mid-week, while Damiano Cunego will be on the quest for his fourth success in the Italian autumn Monument.
The blue-fuchsia-green selection will be completed by Anacona, Bono, Durasek. Mori and Pietropolli.
Michele Scarponi said he was hoping to be able to translate his World Championship form into a top placing in the race that was formerly known as the Giro di Lombardy.
"I'm in a good condition, in Florence I had good feelings and these feedbacks give me the morale to approach Il Lombardia with confidence,” Scarponi explained. “In bad weather, which is forecast for Sunday, I obtained 2nd place in 2010, so why not try to be protagonist this year too? I have confidence in my team-mates and the quality of our selection is so high that we'll be able to be competitive in every moment of the race."
Lampre-Merida Sports Director Piovani aired his concern about the weather conditions and gave a brief outline of the team tactics for the race.
“Bad weather might make an already difficult race even harder,” he said. “The initial parts of the parcours and the early hills will give an indication of who is not going to win, but the chips probably will not come down until the Villa Vergano hill which has proved decisive in recent years. At this juncture it would be an ideal situation for us to have all our three main assets ready to take part in the action. Before that we have to stay alert at all times in make sure to place a rider or two in any breakaway attempts consisting of numerous riders.”
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