RCS Sport have announced novel route for the 2014 edition of Il Lombardia – the season’s last one day classic, on official presentation in Bergamo on Wednesday. The Race of the Falling Leaves will be held on Sunday October 5, and its route will cover 254 kilometers, taking riders from Como to Bergamo.

Differently than in recent editions of autumn’s most renowned one-day event, this year’s Il Lombardia will kick off in Como and head eastwards to Bergamo, with the Berbenno and Bergamo Alto climbs expected to decide the race.

Riders will traverse the total number of 254 kilometers of the route totally omitting Milan this season, and will be forced to tackle 3000 meters of climbing with the famous Madonna di Ghisallo being the first serious obstacle.

No less than six ascents were inserted inside the final 120 kilometers-long circuit around Bergamo, beginning with the Colle dei Pasta (413m), followed by the Colle Gallo (763m) and, after the second feeding zone in Cene, the Passo di Ganda (1060m). The road climbs next the short but steep Bracca (600m) and takes in the technical descent towards Zogno and Brembilla. Riders will then begin the key climb of Berbenno (695m), which comes just 26km from the finish. The route will take the riders back to Bergamo, where they will be forced to tackle the steep Bergamo Alta followed by short, fast descent to the finish line situated in the central part of the city.

All WorldTour squads are required to participate in the event, and Il Lomardia line-up will be completed by seven teams invited by RCS Sport: Androni Giocattoli, Bardiani-CSF, Caja Rural, Colombia, IAM Cycling, Neri Sottoli and NetApp-Endura.

"RCS Sport and La Gazzetta dello Sport are very pleased about the collaboration with the local committee," Stefano Allocchio, Sport Area Direction RCS Sport, said. "With 3800 metres of total climbing we are sure this is going to be a very tough edition of Il Lombardia. The Ghisallo climb, which will be faced in the first part of this race, remains as the symbol of the race.

"The course is different from 2003, there’s a new climb: Passo di Ganda which featured in the 2013 Giro d’Italia, and was a favourite with the fans, who will have time to watch this and then reach the action at the finish line in Bergamo if they want.

"It's the same finish line that will see the protagonists will welcome 250 young kids racing for the Trofeo L’Eco di Bergamo on the same day, in a unique scene celebrating a great day of sport."

Felice Gimondi, Winner of Lombardia 1966 and 1973, will be wearing World Champion jersey on this occasion.

"Il Lombardia is a very technical race and this year's course just confirms it," he said. "It’s hard but not impossible, I expect a small group with the best riders of the day in the final part. After going through the local valleys, the grand finale with Città Alta and Boccola climb will show the beauty of Bergamo to the whole world."

The last two editions of the Race of the Falling leaves were won by Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and the Spaniard will once again be one of the biggest favorites to triumph in the autumnal event.