Tour of Lombardy - Race of the Falling Leaves

Saturday Oct. 15th is the annual fall classic, the Tour of Lombardy or the Race of the Falling Leaves. The final "Monument" of the year, the Lombardia is a tough, hilly classic that has been won by many of the sport's greatest riders. This season's standout cyclist has been Phillipe Gilbert from the Wallonia region of Belgium. Gilbert has dominated any time the courses have been selective and Lombardy is as selective as they come. Unless he and his Omega Pharma - Lotto team stumble, look for another classic 'W' to be notched on the belt of Gilbert.

Riders to watch: Gilbert, Nicholas Roche, Emmanuel Sella, Alessandro Ballan, Domenico Pozzovivo, Giovanni Visconti, Michele Scarponi, Damiano Cunego, Jacob Fuglsang, Vincenzo Nibali, Ivan Basso, Carlos Barredo, Laurens ten Dam, Simon Gerrans, Rigoberto Uran, Dan Martin, Matt Busche, Marco Marcato.

My podium picks: 1. Gilbert, 2. Cunego, 3. Visconti