Spring is in the air - routes and guide for The Classics

One-Day Classics Schedule for 2016

When I am asked what or where my favorite bike races are held, I smile with great sentiment and excitement and always respond, "Oh, the Classics, the cobbles!". Without a doubt the classics are the most grueling test of man and his bike against the elements. Sure cycling is a team sport, but the classics are the hardest races to predict because most often they come down one day, and the will of one man on that one day.

Like many cycling fans I have large gaps in my interest. For me the real cycling season is the spring, then a gap before the Tour of California and Giro, and another before the Tour de France, and finally a long wait until cyclocross season and watching Worlds. In between, I believe it is best to get and and do it yourself.

For now, even with the fresh layer of snowfall in Denver, Colorado today, Spring is in the air. Read more about the races, where to watch the spring classics livestream, route maps and distances. Enjoy this extensive guide to the Spring Classics. More can be found here: Pedal Dancer® Guide Page to the Spring Classics.

ABOUT THE BIGGEST RACES OF THEM ALL

The Monuments:

• Milano-Sanremo (Italy)
• Tour of Flanders (Belgium)
• Paris-Roubaix (France)
• Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium)
• Il Lombardia (Italy)

Nicknames for the Classics:

• Paris-Roubaix = Queen of the Classics (La Reine), The Hell of the North, La Pascale
• Amstel Gold = [no nickname]
• La Fleche-Wallonne = The Walloon Arrow
• Liege-Bastogne-Liege = La Doyenne (the oldest/old lady)
• Milan-San Remo = La Primavera (the spring), Sprinters' Classic, La Classicissima
• Ronde van Vlaanderen = Flanders' most beautiful (Vlaanderens mooiste)
• Paris-Nice = Race to the Sun
• Tirreno-Adriatico = Race of the two Seas
• Il Lombardia = Race of the Falling Leaves

You are on pavé. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

THE SPRING CLASSICS

Spring Classics = Milan-San Remo + Cobbled Classics + Ardennes Classics

La Primavera

• Milano-Sanremo (Italy)

Cobbled Classics:

• Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium)
• Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (Belgium)
• Dwars door Vlaanderen (Belgium)
• E3 Harelbeke  (Belgium)
• Ghent-Wevelgem  (Belgium)
• Tour of Flanders  (Belgium)
• Scheldeprijs (Belgium)
• Paris-Roubaix  (France)

*The most prestigious cobbled classics races are Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders. E3 Harelbeke and Ghent-Wevelgem are also revered, with E3 Harelbeke now being the tougher of the later two.

Ardennes Classics:

• Amstel Gold  (The Netherlands)
• La Flèche Wallonne (Belgium)
• Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium)

Sculpture and Pond at t'Zand square Bruges on Tour of Flanders race day. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

SEEING THE CLASSICS AS A FAN

For an American, the cobbled climbs of the Spring Classics can be hard to understand or appreciate, I certainly didn't understand them until I went and saw them for myself. The climbs aren't that long and don't appear that steep on TV, but trying to acheive and maintain momentum up these climbs is super hard. The cobbles are big, the ruts wide, the camber uneven, the pace unnervingly slow, the conditions often slick and the outcome somewhat unknown.

The approach onto these short cobbled sections often transition around a corner from pavement onto the harsh cobbles, and then suddenly after an excruciating effort, back onto fast smooth tarmac. The passage is narrow and you never know if there will be a crash or pile up ahead; being at the front is crucial. The top of any cobbled climb feels like a tremendous accomplishment. As a spectator, being anywhere near these climbs on race day is exhilarating.

If you are a first time visitor, you might consider joining a tour company. I planned and made the trip solo and had one of the best cyclist tourist trips I have completed. I loved the blend of culture, food, beer, getting lost, exploring the climbs, war memorials, meeting new friends and happily discovering why Belgium is the heartland of cycling. 

The start (bottom) of the Paterberg looks pleasant enough, but wait, it get's steep fast. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

And don't forget about the beer!

The endless choice of delicious beers in Belgium. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

And the food!

Yum, pies and torts in Belgium. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

And the frites! A must - walking the streets of Bruges with frites en (Andalouse) mayo. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

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2016

The classics demonstrate the true beauty of bike racing - they are hard, unknown glory at its best. Here is a list of the classics by date.

One-Day Classics Schedule for 2016 - race dates and links to official race websites.

February 2016
27 February 2016: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, BELGIUM, UCI European Tour 1.HC
28 February 2016: Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne, BELGIUM UCI European Tour 1.HC

March 2016
5 March 2016: Strade Bianche, ITALY, UCI European Tour 1.HC
19 March 2016: Milano - Sanremo, ITALY, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT
23 March 2016: Dwars door Vlaanderen BELGIUM, UCI European Tour 1.HC
25 March 2016: E3 Harelbeke, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT
27 March 2016: Ghent - Wevelgem in Flanders Fields, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

April 2016
3 April 2016: Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT
6 April 2016: Scheldeprijs, BELGIUM UCI European Tour 1.HC
10 April 2016: Paris - Roubaix, FRANCE, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT
17 April 2016: Amstel Gold Race, NETHERLANDS, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT
20 April 2016: La Flèche Wallonne, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT
24 April 2016: Liège - Bastogne - Liège, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

HOW TO WATCH THE SPRING CLASSICS FROM THE USA

My tip is to discover your best option before race day (or slightly before the finish!). Your access to each race will be a bit different and video is often geo-restricted. The options below will list the start and estimated race finish times, a definite help for early risers in the USA. Begin your search for coverage here:

• Steephill.TV: the top of the page lists current race news, the side column (desktop) has a neat and tidy box with the Classics links.
• Cycling Fans: most current race live coverage is listed at the top of the page
• ProCyclingLive: latest links in the center of page.
• Cycling TV: Live and on demand subscription required. 
• NBC Sports Live Extra cycling depending on your TV cable company.  
• NBC Sports Live Extra Mobile App, download in the App Store or the Google Play store. You’ll need a cable provider log-in to watch. 
• CyclingHub.TV: for some you might want to try this livestream site.
• Twitter: search for a link by race name offered by other fans.    

Tip: I purchased a 3-month subscription to Cycling.TV, but I also pull up a Sporza link from Belgium (via Steephill.TV). I like to also watch the local Belgian coverage and the interviews after the race.  In addition I follow along on the live text coverage on CyclingNews.com

You will see far more on TV, but being there is person is a thrill!

Chasing the cobbled climbs included in the classics is an easy place to get lost. The famed cobbled sections included in a number of the races are mere stretches of hard rock in the beautiful countryside of Belgium. 

Location of Kwaremont and Paterberg pave sections, near Kerkhove, Belgium. Map by Pedal Dancer®

Such beautiful countryside to pedal through. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

WHO WILL WIN THE CLASSICS?

Similar names appear each year depending on the terrain of the course and whether short punchy climbs are involved, or long powerful distances are to be raced. Members of team Etixx-Quick Step stands like gods in Belgium, but Team Sky is serious in their preparation, so too is team BMC. This year look for these names to be on the podiums:

Greg Van Avermaet, Ian Stannard, Tom Boonen, Fabian Canellara, Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish, Marcel Kittel, Michal Kwiatkowski, Luke Rowe, Tony Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Nikki Terpstra. The Ardennes classics are typically won by strong climbers such as Alejandro Valverde, Simon Gerrans, Sylvain Chavenel or Philippe Gilbert. 

Leading into the 2016 spring races, John Degenkolb is injured; Andre Greipel is injured. Mark Cavendish's new team, Dimension Data, has not received a wild card invitation to defend his 2015 title at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne 2016. Geraint Thomas is focusing on stage racing. But look out for the strong presence of Tony Martin, new to the cobbled classics. 

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Lion of Flanders. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

SPRING CLASSICS ROUTE MAPS FOR 2016


2016 Omloop Het Niewuwsblad route map
27 February 2016: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, BELGIUM, UCI European Tour 1.HC

Start city: Gent
Finish city: Gent
Distance:  200,8 km
Type of race: cobbled classic

Parcours: interactive road map
Road map: oomloop 2016 elite men roads
Timetable: oomloop 2016 elite men timetable

List of cobbles and bergs/helling: itinéraire

Who won is 2015?:  Ian Stannard (SKY)
Who won is 2016?:  Greg Van Avermaet (BMC)

Greg Van Avermaet in Kortrijk. Photo by Pedal Dancer®

Omloop Het Niewuwsblad 2016 route map

2016 Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne route map
28 February 2016: Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne, BELGIUM UCI European Tour 1.HC

Start city: Kuurne
Finish city: Kuurne
Distance: 200,7 km
Type of race: sprinter's classic

Parcours: interactive road map
Road map and timetable: elite men roads (on page)

List of cobbles and bergs/helling: itinéraire

Who won is 2015?:  Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step)
Who won is 2016?:

Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne route map

2016 Strade Bianca route map
5 March 2016: Strade Bianche, ITALY, UCI European Tour 1.HC

Start city: Siena
Finish city: Siena
Distance: 176 km
Type of race: white gravel

Route map: Parcours (on page)
Timetable: Altimetria (on page)

Who won is 2015?:  Zdenek Stybar (Etixx - Quick Step)
Who won is 2016?: 

Strade Bianca 2016 route map

2016 Milan San Remo route map
19 March 2016: Milano - Sanremo, ITALY, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

Start city: Milano
Finish city: Sanremo
Distance: ~293 km
Type of race: sprinter's classic

Route mao: planimetria (details not yet published)
Profile map: altrimetria
Timetable: cronotabella

Who won is 2015?:  John Degenkolb (Giant - Alpecin)
Who won is 2016?: 

Milan San Remo route map 2016

2016 Dwars door Vlaanderen route map
23 March 2016: Dwars door Vlaanderen BELGIUM, UCI European Tour 1.HC

Start city: Meensesteenweg
Finish city: Verbindingsweg Waregem
Distance: 199,7 km
Type of race: cobbled classic

Parcours: interactive course map
Profile: Elite Men Profile
Road map: Elite Men Roads
Timetable: Elite Men Time table
Teams: pro teams

Who won is 2015?:  Jelle Wallays (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise)
Who won is 2016?:

Dwars door Vlaanderen route map 2016

The final stretch of climb up the Kwaremont on a quiet day.  ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2016 E3 Harelbeke route map, (the bergs in E3)
25 March 2016: E3 Harelbeke, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

Start city: Harelbeke
Finish city: Aankomst
Distance: 206 km
Type of race: cobbled classic
@E3Harelbeke

Parcours: interactive course map and Record Bank E3 Harelbeke - World Tour Elite - Roads and Traffic
Road map: Record Bank E3 Harelbeke - World Tour Elite - Detail
Teams: pro teams
Highlighted bergs: climbs

Who won is 2015?:  Geraint Thomas (Sky)
Who won is 2016?: 

E3 Harelbeke route map 2016

This is Tour of Flanders country (Ronde van Vlaanderen). ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2016 Gent - Wevelgem route map
27 March 2016: Gent - Wevelgem in Flanders Fields, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

Start city: Gent
Finish city: Wevelgem
Distance: 242,8 km
Type of race: sprinter's classic

Parcours: interactive course map
Road map: gw2016-elite-men-roadmap-v2.pdf
Timetable: gw2016-elite-men-timetable (1).pdf
Teams: Pro teams
List of bergs/helling: on itinerary 
Trivia: 48 of the past 60 races have been won by a Belgian.

Who won is 2015?: Luca Paolini (Katusha)
Who won is 2016?:  

Gent - Wevelgem route map 2016

Strolling the streets of Ghent. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2016 Tour of Flanders route map
3 April 2016: Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres, BELGIUM, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

Start city: Bruges
Finish city: Oudenaarde
Distance: 255 km
Type of race: cobbled classic

Parcours: interactive course map
The bergs
Road Map: rvv2016-elite-men-roadmap.pdf
Timetable: rvv2016-elite-men-timetable.pdf 
Teams: Pro teams

Who won is 2015?:  Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
Who won is 2016?: 

Tour of Flanders route map 2016

Practice day on the Kwaremont pre Tour of Flanders race day. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2016 Schedldeprijs route map
6 April 2016: Scheldeprijs, BELGIUM UCI European Tour 1.HC

Start city: Antwerpen
Finish city: Schoten
Distance: 207,8 km
Type of race: sprinter's / cobbled classic

Parcours: interactive course map
Road Map: sp2016-elite-men-roadmapV20feb.pdf
Timetable: sp2016-elite-men-timetable V20feb.pdf
Teams: Pro teams

Who won is 2015?:  Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) 
Who won is 2016?: 

2016 Schedldeprijs route map

Antwerpen

2016 Paris-Roubaix route map
10 April 2016: Paris - Roubaix, FRANCE, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

Start city: Compiègne
Finish city: Roubaix
Distance: ~ 253 km
Type of race: cobbled classic

Pro Teams for 2016: participants
Route map: the official 2016 Paris-Roubaix parcours map has not yet been released.

The route of the 2016 Paris-Roubaix, which will be held on Sunday April 10, will include 27 cobble sectors over 52.8kms (32.81 miles) of cobblestones. The “Trouée d'Arenberg”, the Mons-en-Pévèle sector and the “Carrefour de l'Arbre” will be included in the 2016 p parcours. The uphill climb of Hameau du Buat will be featured in 2016. One hundred metres has been added to the length of the race in 2016. The total distance will be a grueling 257.5kms (160 miles).

Who won is 2015?:  John Degenkolb (Giant - Alpecin)
Who won is 2016?: 

The velodrome on Roubaix where the Paris-Roubaix race finishes. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2016 Amstel-Gold route map
17 April 2016: Amstel Gold Race, NETHERLANDS, UCI WorldTour 1.UWT

Start City: Maastricht
Finish City: Valkenburg
Distance:
Type of race: Ardennes classic

Who won is 2015?:  Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step)
Who won is 2016?: 

The exact parcours of the 2016 Amstel Gold has not yet been released.

Maastricht

Ardennes Classics:

• Amstel Gold  (The Netherlands) 
• La Flèche Wallonne (Belgium)
• Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium)

Winners of the Classics in 2015

2015 Trofeo-Laigueglia - Winner: Davide Cimolai (Lampre-Merida)
2015 Omloop Het Nieuw - Winner: Ian Stannard (SKY)
2015 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne - Winner: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step)
2015 Le Samyn - Winner: Kris Boeckmans (Lotto Soudal)
2015 Strade Bianche - Winner:  Zdenek Stybar (Etixx - Quick Step) 
2015 Milan-San Remo - Winner: John Degenkolb (Giant - Alpecin)
2015 Dwars d Vlaanderen - Winner: Jelle Wallays (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise)
2015 E3 - Harelbeke - Winner: Geraint Thomas (Sky)
2015 Gent-Wevelgem - Winner: Luca Paolini (Katusha) 
2015 Tour of Flanders - Winner: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
2015 Scheldeprijs - Winner: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) 
2015 Paris-Roubaix - Winner: John Degenkolb (Giant - Alpecin)
2015 De Brabantse Pijl - Winner: Ben Hermans (BMC) 
2015 Amstel Gold - Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step)
2015 La Flèche Wallonne - Winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
2015 Liège-Bastogne-Liège - Winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
2015 San Sebastian - Winner: Adam Yates (Orica GreenEDGE)
2015 GP Cycliste Québec - Winner: Rigoberto Uran Uran (Etixx Quickstep)
2015 GP Cycliste Montreal - Winner: Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal)
2015 Il Lombardia - Winner: Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)

A landmark at the entrance to the Koppenberg climb. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

A new shorter Gent-Wevelgem

They have shortened a Classic

This is definitely the year of weather, or the year the Spring Classics became the Winter Classics. After the miserable conditions at Milan-San Remo last weekend, this weekend another race is expected to be pummeled with cold wet weather. Now the route of the 2013 Gent-Wevelgem has been changed due to heavy winter weather. This time, they are planning ahead to avoid major weather.

Gent-Wevelgem - 24 March 2013

Fifty-two of the planned 235.5km have been removed from tomorrow's race. Instead the riders will cover 183.4km in forecast freezing temperatures with 30% chance of snow and 19mph+ winds. The announcement to change the route was made Friday, after an awareness of almost certain poor conditions would affect the race and riders. Many of the same riders who recently suffered through a very cold E3-Harlebeke.

According to VeloNews, "It is the first time [race president Luc Gheysens] has made a route change due to external factors in his 30 years as the race president, and it wasn’t done lightly. The race will keep its start in Deinze but only as a matter of show: Riders will dress and sign in, but then board team buses for a 47km ride to Gistel, which allows the race to maintain its anticipated arrival times and stay on schedule."

CyclingNews further reports, "With more snow forecast to fall from around 10pm on Saturday evening and with temperatures plummeting to around -3, a decision will be made on Sunday morning before the race over the inclusion of the two ascents of the Casselberg."

As of today, the official parcoursmap is available on the race website for Gent-Wevelgem (still reflecting the entire route, but referred to as official by race organizers). Nieuwe roadmap en timetable: http://www.gent-wevelgem.be/nl/elite-men/race/track (hit the Start button).

Amazingly race organizers have come up with a plan that will not greatly affect the start or finish cities, nor the timetable for most cities along the route.

New parcours for 2013 Gent-Wevelgem. (This is my hand altered version of the route map).
The riders will not race between Deinze and Gistel (green line). After appearing in Deinze, they will take a bus to the new start in Gistel. They will race the gold line on this map. Click to enlarge map

Route map and timetable

View larger version of the route map for Gent-Wevelgem.

Sunday at 11:15am, the riders will have a ceremonial start in the traditional start city of Deinze. They will then drive with their teams, to the official race start in the city of Gistel. The race will begin at 12:35 at Aen Cafe Tourmalet, located at Kouter (N35) and Tieltsesteenweg (N35). The riders will disembark and begin riding on the originally planned route through Belgium, a bit of France, and back into Belgium to finish as planned in Wevelgem.

Here is the new accurate and updated timetable for Gent-Wevelgem reflecting the changes.

25 teams will compete: Official start list by procyclingstats.com
UCI Pro Teams 2013 
ALM/ AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
AST/ Astana Pro Team (KAZ)
BLA/ Blanco Pro Cycling Team (NED)
BMC/ BMC Racing Team (USA)
CAN/ Cannondale Pro Cycling (ITA)
EUS/ Euskaltel Euskadi (ESP)
FDJ/ FDJ (FRA)
GRS/ Garmin Sharp (USA)
KAT/ Katusha (RUS)
LAM/ Lampre Merida (ITA)
LTB/ Lotto Belisol (BEL)
MOV/ Movistar Team (ESP)
OPQ/ Omega Pharma - Quick-step Cycling Team (BEL)
OGE/ Orica Greenedge (AUS)
RLT/ Radioshack Leopard (LUX)
SKY/ Sky Procycling (GBR)
ARG/ Team Argos Shimano (NED)
TST/ Team Saxo-Tinkoff (DEN)
VCD/ Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team (NED)
AJW/ Accent Jobs - Wanty (BEL)
CRE/ CRELAN - Euphony (BEL)
TSV/ Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise (BEL)
COF/ Cofidis, Solutions Crédit (FRA)
EUC/ Team Europcar (FRA)
IAM/ IAM Cycling (SUI)

Race previews

PEZ Previews Gent Wevelgem By Edmond Hood, and also Team SKY. And a video: Greg Henderson talks cold weather racing at Gent-Wevelgem

Who won last year?: Tom Boonen

2009		Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR)	Team Columbia-High Road
2010		Bernhard Eisel (AUT)	Team HTC-Columbia
2011		Tom Boonen (BEL)	Quick Step
2012		Tom Boonen (BEL)	Omega Pharma-Quick Step

The climbs in Gent-Wevelgem race (the location of these climbs (km) on this list is incorrect for 2013), please look at this schedule for the exact times and kilometers of the climbs)

Recommended reading: Iconic Places: The Kemmelberg By Cycle Sport
Also read: A Closer Look: Gent-Wevelgem Pre-Ride By Pez Cycling
Related posts by Pedal Dancer: Word of the Day: hellingen

Update Sunday morning - the race is on with no additional changes!

Photos from my own trip to Belgium last spring (please click any image to enlarge)

Related post by Pedal Dancer: Day 5 in Flanders (My trip in 2012) and more at Stories from Belgium

The fields of Flanders

Tyne Cot War Museum

Young students taking a tour of history

The Menin road

A different kind of map in 1918 Belgium

Ieper (Ypres)

memorial

Menin Gate

This year they will race under the gate

Race Coverage

Tomorrow will be another early race viewing morning in America. And although Cosmo at Cyclocosm wrote a good piece about the sorry state of TV watching for the sport of cycling this week (Why Americans Can’t Watch Cycling “On TV”), I am happy to have the old trusty [crappiest race coverage of all time] foreign language links to watch online. 

Once again Steve Hill at Steephill.TV informs us:
Start Time: Sunday March 24 11:15 CET (4:15:00 AM MDT); Weather in Gistel, Belgium
Earliest live video: 14:30 CET (7:30:00 AM MDT); see LINKS ON STEEPHILL
Approximate Finish: 17:00 CET (10:00:00 AM MDT); Weather in Wevelgem, Belgium

Race Results

1. Peter Sagan (SVK) 4hr 29min 10sec
2. Borut Bozic (SLO) at 23sec
3. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) 
See the full 2013 Gent-Wevelgem race results by ProCyclingStats

My fav: How The Race Was Won – Gent-Wevelgem 2013, By Cyclocosm

Also by Pedal Dancer: Who is Peter Sagan? other than studly and very good at wheelies. 
. 

Nicknames of the Classic Races

Spring Classics quiz - match the race to it's nickname

Race

1. Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)

2. Gent-Wevelgem

3. Paris-Roubaix

4. Amstel Gold

5. Fleche-Wallonne

6. Liege-Bastogne-Liege

7. Milan-San Remo

Nickname

a. La Doyenne

b. Vlaanderens mooiste (Flanders's finest)  

c. Sprinters' Classic

d. La Primavera

e. [no nickname]

f. Queen of the Classics or The Hell of the North or La Pascale

g. Walloon Arrow

 
Answers

1. b

2. e

3. f

4. e

5. g

6. a

7. d, c

Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) =  Vlaanderens mooiste (Flanders's finest)
Gent-Wevelgem = [no nickname] 

Paris-Roubaix  = Queen of the Classics or The Hell of the North or La Pascale
Amstel Gold  = [no nickname]  
Fleche-Wallonne = Walloon Arrow 
Liege-Bastogne-Liege = La Doyenne
Milan-San Remo = La Primavera and Sprinters' Classic

Oh to be there in person! Someday, soon. 

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Flags of the cobbles

Pride of the Classics 

Belgium Flag, Wallonie Flag, Flanders Flag

French Flag, Dutch Flag, Luxembourg Flag

When I think of the spring classics I think of Belgium. I invision the cobbles, the weather, the beer, the hardy fans, and the flags. But the one day spring classic races attract fans from all over western Europe - Dutch, Flemish, French, British, and many others. When I think of Paris-Roubaix, I almost forget that Paris-Roubaix is a French race, on French terrain, run to the doorstep of Belgium, but not over it's border, mostly because the flags I always see flying high at Paris-Roubaix are Flemish.

Belgium is crazy about cycling. Belgium is 58% Dutch, the northern more prosperous area is called Flanders where they speak Dutch (Flemish). The Flag of Flanders is the very recognizable bright yellow flag with the black lion. The south of Belgium is called Wallonie where they speak French. The flag of Wallonie is the bright yellow flag with the red rooster. I have learned not to get these two flags mixed up! I've also learned to remember who is running which race, and to never forget the life-changing importance to any rider lucky enough to win one of the Classics.

(I love that this map is titled as a beer guide map)

Spring one-day races

The Belgian classic races are: Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), Gent–Wevelgem, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège–Bastogne–Liège

The French classic race is: Paris-Roubaix

The Italian classic race is: Milano-Sanremo

The Dutch classic race is: Amstel Gold Race

This is my kind of March Madness (the traditional schedule changed this year)

• Sunday, March 16, 2011:  Milan-San Remo
• Sunday, March 27, 2011:  Gent-Wevelgem 
• Sunday, April 3, 2011:  Tour of Flanders
• Sunday, April 10, 2011:  Paris-Roubaix
• Sunday, April 17, 2011:  Amstel-Gold
• Wednesday, April 20, 2011:  Fleche-Wallonne
• Sunday, April 24, 2011:  Liege-Bastogne-Liege

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Gent - Wevelgem

Back in Belgium this morning

Last weekend those of us who are online fans (as in armchair travelers) were watching the live race in Italy, this Sunday morning the race is in Belgium. Back to the COBBLES!

Watching Live Video at: http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-5.php
Reading live ticker-tape at: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-upt
Rosters and who is riding (in the right column) at: http://www.steephill.tv/classics/gent-wevelgem/
Photos from CyclingNews.com at: Gent-Wevelgem: start line gallery
PezCycling crew rode the race route before: A Closer Look: Gent-Wevelgem Pre-Ride
Great weather in Belgium today: Current Time, Weather and Wind Direction in Wevelgem, Belgium
Other interesting articles: Relocation of Gent-Wevelgem may be the death of the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen 
 Approximate Finish: 16:27 CEST (8:27:00 AM MST)  I think it will be sooner than that!

BOONEN!

That was an amazing and surprising finish! An incredible leadout, fast speeds by Gert Steegmans (Quick step). Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) was second, Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) was third and Andrei Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) was fourth.

Watch all the race highlight videos located on this link: Boonen viert een tweede keer in Gent-Wevelgem. This was Tom Boonen's second win at Gent-Wevelgem, his first win was in 2004 at age 23.

I hope that Yoann Offredo (FDJ) and then Leonard Ducque (Cofidis), are both okay after colliding with the cameraman/photographer at the finish line (why were they allowed to be in the road?)

Next Classic on the schedule is Tour of Flanders next Sunday: Tour of Flanders on Steephill.TV or Flanders Classics website Ronde van Vlaanderen. And since I came pretty close to hopping a plane last minute to Belgium to see the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix this week, I will certainly be watching these races online, but wishing I was there (I instead settled for next year, maybe with a trip back to Italy as well).

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