Vincenzo Nibali will be hoping to repeat his 2015 success at the Il Lombardia ©Getty Images

Home favourite Vincenzo Nibali will seek a second victory at the 111th edition of the Il Lombardia race tomorrow in one of the final major tests of the European road cycling season.

Nibali became the first home winner in seven editions when he triumphed in the 2015 race.

The Bahrain-Merida rider could benefit from the absence of defending champion Esteban Chaves, who became the first Colombian winner of the race when winning a sprint finish last year.

He is absent this time around after fracturing his shoulder in a crash at the Giro dell’Emilia last week.

The final International Cycling Union World Tour Classic of the year will see the peloton tackle a 247 kilometres route starting in Bergamo and ending in Como - the reverse of last year's route.

Esteban Chaves, in lead, won the 2016 edition but has been ruled out through injury this time around ©Getty Images
Esteban Chaves, in lead, won the 2016 edition but has been ruled out through injury this time around ©Getty Images

It includes the tough Madonna del Ghisallo and Muro di Sormano climbs before a final short but steep ascent up San Fermo della Battaglia in the final stages.

Some top riders, including world champion Peter Sagan, have already ended their seasons. 

But others present included Dutch Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin of Team Sunweb and Movistar's Nairo Quintana, who will be hoping to gain a second successive Colombian win.

Britain's Adam Yates will also lead a strong Orica-Scott team.

Other contenders include Belgium's Philppe Gilbert and Ireland's 2014 winner Dan Martin for Quick-Step Floors, Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski for Team Sky and another Colombian in Rigoberto Uran for Cannondale-Drapac.