Il Lombardia
Halfway through the fall, the most demanding cycling classic of the year takes place in Italy. The Giro di Lombardia, or La corsa delle foglie morte (race of the falling leaves) is set in the hills surrounding Lake Como in northern Italy. From 2006 through 2010, the filmmakers followed Dutch cyclists and their teams, preparing for the dramatic apotheosis of the cycling season.
The film introduces past heroes, like Jo de Roo, who in 1962 won three classic races in one year. Current participants like Karsten Kroon, Robert Gesink and Michael Boogerd explain what Il Lombardia, as the Italians lovingly call the race, means to them.
Recent and archive footage of legendary climbs, like the infamous Colma di Sormano, with grades of up to 25 percent, and the legendary chapel at the top of the Ghisallo, a place of pilgrimage for cyclists, and Italian cycling fans present a striking portrayal of this legendary race.