Henrique Ribeiro Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) won Il Lombardia Under 23 on 3 October, solo, with a 56″ lead, in 4h02’05”. Otto Jølving (Team Coloquick, Denmark) was second, Matteo Scalco (XDS Astana Development Team, Italy) third.
The race
Il Lombardia Under 23 was run on Saturday 3 October, from Oggiono to Oggiono, over 177 kilometres and four laps of the Ello circuit. Of the 156 riders who started, 67 finished. Henrique Ribeiro Bravo, a 20-year-old Brazilian riding for Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team, won.
The first attackers went on the first lap. Belgium’s Veneechoutte, Italy’s Forlin, the United States’ Makohon and Denmark’s Troelsen got away, reaching 30” before they were caught. At the start of the final lap a large group moved clear, with France’s Coudiere Cantin and Belgium’s Marivoet among the names.
The race came alive on the road to the Ghisallo. Coudiere Cantin, Denmark’s Jølving, Italy’s Leonardo Vesco and Germany’s Benjamin Benz attacked: four riders who built a lead of more than three minutes over the bunch. Vesco was first over the top of the Ghisallo.
Bravo attacked from the bunch. He caught and passed Martini, one of the riders who had gained ground, and tackled the Ghisallo alone: at the summit he was still 1’07” behind the leaders. On the descent Alessandro Cattani and then Benz caught him, while up front the small group was shedding riders.
The race was decided on the ramps of Colle Brianza, about 22 kilometres from the finish. Bravo attacked and found no response: Jølving and Coudiere Cantin were left behind. From there he rode alone to Oggiono, where he arrived in 4h02’05”.
Jølving, of Team Coloquick, limited the damage and finished second, 56” back. Behind him came a strong finish from Matteo Scalco, of XDS Astana Development Team, third at 1’06”. Behind him a group of seven riders finished at 1’12”, with Mellano fourth and Cattani ninth.
Bravo is the first Brazilian to win this race. The recent roll of honour went to Lecerf in 2023, Rolland in 2024 and Thornley in 2025. For Bravo, born in 2006 in Nova Lima, it is the biggest win of the season.
The best-placed Italian is Matteo Scalco, XDS Astana Development Team, 3rd at 1’06”; there are 3 Italians in the top ten. 67 riders finished out of 156 starters.
How they finished
The top ten
| # | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henrique Ribeiro Bravo | Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team | 4h02’05” |
| 2 | Otto Jølving | Team Coloquick | +56″ |
| 3 | Matteo Scalco | XDS Astana Development Team | +1’06” |
| 4 | Ludovico Mellano | XDS Astana Development Team | +1’12” |
| 5 | Yann Dubois | Groupama-Fdj United | +1’12” |
| 6 | Rémi Arsac | Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team | +1’12” |
| 7 | Clement Sanchez | Vendee U Primeo Energie | +1’12” |
| 8 | Vincent Bodet | Vendee U Primeo Energie | +1’12” |
| 9 | Alessandro Cattani | Team Technipes #inemiliaromagna Caffè Borbone | +1’12” |
| 10 | Duarte Marivoet Scholiers | Lotto-Groupe Wanty | +1’12” |
The race in numbers
- Selection index
- 98 out of 100 Of 67 finishers: no one else within 30 seconds of the winner; including the winner, 22 within 2 minutes and all within 10 minutes. It runs from 0, a bunch sprint, to 98, a solo win.
News written with the help of Mnemosyne.
Sources
- Results and times: UCI, official results.