Michael Woods' impressive solo victory in Milan-Torino boosted his confidence in Il Lombardia, and he was a natural addition to the list of eight big-name riders expected to battle for victory in the final monument of the 2019 season.

However, the Canadian named Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) as the rider to beat after he ran away from Woods and others in the Giro delle Miglia last Sunday.

Woods compared Roglic to "Robocop" after watching the Giro delle Miglia race video. He hopes that the long and demanding 243-km route of Il Lombardia will weaken Roglic and his underwhelming Jumbo Visma team.

"I'm looking forward to riding Lombardia this year," Woods told Cycling News.

This race is difficult to predict because it is late in the season. It's like the third week of the Grand Tour, where motivation is more important than form."

"There are Grand Tour winners, and there are great classic riders. If Roglic is in form on Saturday, he is the one to beat." Given his results in Milano-Torino, I think he should be considered one of the favorites to win the Lombardia. But he has never had a big result, so his first goal is to get on the podium."

Woods attacked seven times on the Superga climb overlooking Turin, eventually pulling away from all his rivals and winning ahead of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Adam Yates (Mitchelton Scott).

Valverde and Yates stood out in the final start list of Il Lombardia, with Egan Bernal (Team Ineos), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida), David Gaudou ( Groupama-FDJ) and Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) have the experience, form and team support to turn heads on the testing hills of Lombardy between Bergamo and Como.

Woods will shake off his EF Education First rookie badge and fight a 243km race under fallen leaves with support from Hugh Carthy, Simon Clark, Sergio Igita, and Tanel Kangert.

Woods has run Il Lombardia twice before, taking time out from racing in Italy to race the Madonna del Ghisallo, the steep Colma di Sormano, often the decisive Civiglio, followed by the return of the San Fermo della Battaglia climb, this year's route was scouted.

"After Emilia, I stayed at Simon Clark's house in Varese on Sunday to scout the route.

"With the return of San Fermo della Battaglia, I think more people will be hesitant to run Solmano. They will also be scared off by last year's Pinot attack. It will be a great race, with climbs and descents. The weather will be good too, so it will be classic Lombardia."