Five riders to watch at Il Lombardia

Il Lombardia is one of the best races of cycling's end-of-season. Puncheurs, grand tour stars and riders looking to salvage their seasons descend on Italy’s Lombardy region for the “Race of The Falling Leaves” each October.

Tadej Pogačar is defending Lombardia champion and a double Tour de France winner. He has one-day victories from Liège-Bastogne-Liègge and Strade Bianche through GP Montréal. Pogasar has a disappointing season but is motivated to win another big race before the year is done.

Alejandro Valverde is retiring from pro cycling on Saturday. He's started the Il Lombardia race 11 times and finished in the top 10 in all but one of his last seven appearances. Enric Mas is on the form after finishing second at Vuelta a España and winning Giro dell’Emilia. He beat Tadej Pogačar in Emilia and is looking forward to the rest of the classics.

Jonas Vingegaard is the reigning Tour de France champion. He started Lombardia twice and Liège-Bastogne-Lièges three times. Vedegaards won the Drôme Classic this winter.

Julian Alaphilippe is out of the rainbow jersey. He has only two victories all year. Alphilippi crashed out at Vuelta a España and lost his world title. Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team is going to Il Lombardia. He's won four starts in his legs. The 30-year-old is a double world champion.

Mohorič is aiming to win Il Lombardia on Saturday. He had health problems this summer and didn't do the world championships. The route for Il Lomborghia in 2022 cuts the leg-crushing Muro di Sormano. He is the ultimate dark-horse for this year's edition. His team won the CRO Race last week.

Vicenzo Nibali, Michael Woods, Dani Martínez, Enric Mas, Sergio Higuita, and David Gaudu are riders to watch at Il Lombardia.