The leaves were still green and not falling at the Madonna del Ghisallo when Il Lombardia raced by on Saturday. Autumn has still to arrive in northern Italy and the men's professional cycling season goes on for at least another week in China, the Veneto, France, Japan and even Andorra.
Yet Il Lombardia always marks the symbolic end to a long season. The enthusiasm of the early-season races is replaced by the autumnal mordoré as the afternoon light gradually fades faster than the energy left in the riders' legs.
