'A women's Il Lombardia will happen but it's complicated' – RCS Sport working on creating the missing women's Monument

RCS Sport, organisers of Italy's most prestigious races, has confirmed it is actively working towards establishing a women's edition of Il Lombardia, the final Monument of the men's season. While no concrete date or format has been announced, the statement signifies a significant commitment from the historically cautious promoter. The news has been met with enthusiasm from top riders like Demi Vollering, highlighting the long-standing desire within the peloton for this addition.

This development is long overdue, given that four of the five men's Monuments now have established women's counterparts, with Paris-Roubaix Femmes and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes particularly thriving. Il Lombardia, with its demanding parcours and late-season slot, offers a unique challenge missing from the current women's calendar. RCS Sport's previous hesitancy, often citing logistical and financial hurdles, makes this public declaration a notable shift, suggesting external pressures and growing commercial viability are finally bearing fruit.

It seems even the most entrenched institutions eventually bend to the inevitable. A women's Il Lombardia isn't just "amazing," as Vollering notes; it's a fundamental requirement for a truly complete and equitable cycling calendar.