Forthcoming film to give a Dutch take on the Giro di Lombardia (plus video)

The Spring Classics may be over, with the final Monument of 2011, the Giro di Lombardia, a seemingly distant prospect – there’s the small matter of the three Grand Tours and the World Championships to be raced first. Without wishing the summer away, however, we thought it worth flagging up what looks like being a fascinating film to be released later this year following the fortunes of Dutch riders taking part in last year’s Race of the Falling Leaves.

Man-of-the-moment Philippe Gilbert has won the last two editions of the late-season race, but the film, entitled Il Lombardia, focuses on current Dutch riders Karsten Kroon, Robert Gesink and Johnny Hoogerland, and also includes interviews with one of only two men from the Netherlands to have won the race, Jo de Roo, victor in 1962 and 1963.

Also featured are ex-Dutch pro Michael Boogerd and two-time winner and now Italian national coach, Paolo Bettini. Although the trailer is in Dutch, the finished film, which will be released in the autumn, will have English subtitles.

The film is written and directed by Johannes Sigmond and produced by Pankra and Polka Dot Jersey.