Classic cycle races

Classic cycle races

The classic cycle races are one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar. Most of the events, all run in western Europe, have been fixtures on the professional calendar for decades and the oldest ones date back to the 19th Century. They are normally held at roughly the same time each year. In the last few years, the five most revered races are sometimes described as the 'Monuments'.

For the 2005-2007 seasons, the Classics formed part of the UCI ProTour run by the Union Cycliste Internationale. This event series also included various stage races including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, Paris–Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, and various non-Classic single day events. The ProTour replaced the UCI Road World Cup series which contained only one-day races. Many of the Classics, and all the Grand Tours, were not part of the ProTour for the 2008 season because of disputes between the UCI and the ASO, which organizes the Tour de France and several other major races.

Contents

The Classics

Professional races commonly regarded as Classics:

La Primavera

  • Milan – San Remo (Italy) – the first true Classic of the year, its Italian name is La Primavera (the spring), this race is normally held in late March. First run in 1907.

Cobbled classics

  • Ronde van Vlaanderen (Belgium) – the first of the 'Spring Classics', is normally raced in early April. First held in 1913. Known in English as the 'Tour of Flanders'.
  • Gent–Wevelgem (Belgium) - First held in 1934.
  • Paris–Roubaix (France) – La Reine ("Queen of the Classics") or l'Enfer du Nord ("Hell of the North") is traditionally one week after the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and was first raced in 1896.

Ardennes classics

  • Amstel Gold Race (the Netherlands) – normally held mid-April. First run in 1966, it is one of the three "Ardennes Classics."
  • La Flèche Wallonne (Belgium) – First run in 1936, Walloon Arrow is traditionally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Second "Ardennes Classic."
  • Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium) – late April. La Doyenne, the oldest Classic, was first held in 1892. It is the third "Ardennes Classic."

Together, the Cobbled classics and the Ardennes classics form the Spring Classics, all held in April.

Fall/autumn classics

  • Clásica de San Sebastián (Spain)
  • Paris–Tours (France)
  • Giro di Lombardia (Italy) – also known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves", is normally held in October. Initially called the Milano-Milano in 1905, it became the Giro di Lombardia in 1907.

Season openers

  • Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium) - opening Belgian cycling season
  • GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise (France) - opening French cycling season
  • Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi (Italy) - opening Italian cycling season
  • Trofeo Cala Millor-Cala Bona (Spain) - opening Spanish cycling season

Some past Classics are no longer run. These include the gruelling 560 km, partly motor-paced event, Bordeaux–Paris, run from 1891 to 1988. Other former races include the Züri-Metzgete and the very old autumn race Milano-Torino.

The 'Monuments'

The Five Monuments of Cycling are generally considered to be the oldest and most-prestigious one-day races on the calendar.[1][2][3]

  • Milan – San Remo (Italy) – the first true Classic of the year, its Italian name is La Primavera (the spring), this race is held in late March. First run in 1907.
  • Tour of Flanders (Belgium) – also known as the "Ronde van Vlaanderen", the first of the 'Spring Classics', is raced in early April. First held in 1913.
  • Paris–Roubaix (France) – the "Queen of the Classics" or l'Enfer du Nord ("Hell of the North") is traditionally one week after the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and was first raced in 1896.
  • Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium) – late April. La Doyenne, the oldest Classic, was first held in 1892 as an amateur event; a professional edition following in 1894.
  • Giro di Lombardia (Italy) – also known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves", is held in October. Initially called the Milano–Milano in 1905, it became the Giro di Lombardia in 1907.

Only three riders have won all five 'Monument' one-day races during their careers: Roger De Vlaeminck, Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx, all three Belgians. With victories in all the other Monuments, Sean Kelly almost joined this group, finishing second in the Tour of Flanders on three occasions (1984, 1986 and 1987). Dutch rider Hennie Kuiper won each Monument, except Liège–Bastogne–Liège in which he finished second in 1980. Belgian rider Fred De Bruyne also came close, finishing second in the Giro di Lombardia in 1955 and winning the other four races during his career.

Cyclists who won more than two 'Monuments'
Cyclist Nationality M–S ToF P–R L–B–L GdL Total
Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx  Belgium 7 2 3 5 2 19
De Vlaeminck, RogerRoger De Vlaeminck  Belgium 3 1 4 1 2 11
Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo  Italy 6 3 9
Coppi, FaustoFausto Coppi  Italy 3 1 5 9
Kelly, SeanSean Kelly  Ireland 2 2 2 3 9
Van Looy, RikRik Van Looy  Belgium 1 2 3 1 1 8
Bartali, GinoGino Bartali  Italy 4 3 7
Pelissier, HenriHenri Pélissier  France 1 2 3 6
Binda, AlfredoAlfredo Binda  Italy 2 4 6
De Bruyne, FredFred De Bruyne  Belgium 1 1 1 3 6
Moser, FrancescoFrancesco Moser  Italy 1 3 2 6
Argentin, MorenoMoreno Argentin  Italy 1 4 1 6
Museeuw, JohanJohan Museeuw  Belgium 3 3 6
Belloni, GaetanoGaetano Belloni  Italy 2 3 5
Van Steenbergen, RikRik Van Steenbergen  Belgium 1 2 2 5
Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault  France 1 2 2 5
Bartoli, MicheleMichele Bartoli  Italy 1 2 2 5
Bettini, PaoloPaolo Bettini  Italy 1 2 2 5
Boonen, TomTom Boonen  Belgium 2 3 5
Rebry, GastonGaston Rebry  Belgium 1 3 4
Schepers, AlphonseAlphonse Schepers  Belgium 1 3 4
Bobet, LouisonLouison Bobet  France 1 1 1 1 4
Derycke, GermainGermain Derycke  Belgium 1 1 1 1 4
Gimondi, FeliceFelice Gimondi  Italy 1 1 2 4
Godefroot, WalterWalter Godefroot  Belgium 2 1 1 4
Kuiper, HennieHennie Kuiper  Netherlands 1 1 1 1 4
Raas, JanJan Raas  Netherlands 1 2 1 4
Zabel, ErikErik Zabel  Germany 4 4
Cancellara, FabianFabian Cancellara  Switzerland 1 1 2 4
Lapize, OctaveOctave Lapize  France 3 3
Brunero, GiovanniGiovanni Brunero  Italy 1 2 3
Gijssels, RomainRomain Gijssels  Belgium 2 1 3
Magni, FiorenzoFiorenzo Magni  Italy 3 3
de Roo, JoJo de Roo  Netherlands 1 2 3
Daems, EmileEmile Daems  Belgium 1 1 1 3
Simpson, TomTom Simpson  United Kingdom 1 1 1 3
Leman, EricEric Leman  Belgium 3 3
Van Petegem, PeterPeter Van Petegem  Belgium 2 1 3
Tafi, AndreaAndrea Tafi  Italy 1 1 1 3
Tchmil, AndreiAndrei Tchmil  Belgium 1 1 1 3
Freire, ÓscarÓscar Freire  Spain 3 3
Cunego, DamianoDamiano Cunego  Italy 3 3
Gilbert, PhilippePhilippe Gilbert  Belgium 1 2 3
Monument winners since 1960
Year Milan – San Remo Tour of Flanders Paris–Roubaix Liège–Bastogne–Liège Giro di Lombardia
1960  René Privat (FRA)  Arthur De Cabooter (BEL)  Pino Cerami (BEL)  Albertus Geldermans (NED)  Emile Daems (BEL)
1961  Raymond Poulidor (FRA)  Tom Simpson (GBR)  Rik van Looy (BEL)  Rik van Looy (BEL)  Vito Taccone (ITA)
1962  Emile Daems (BEL)  Rik van Looy (BEL)  Rik van Looy (BEL)  Jef Planckaert (BEL)  Jo de Roo (NED)
1963  Joseph Groussard (FRA)  Noel Foré (BEL)  Emile Daems (BEL)  Frans Melckenbeeck (BEL)  Jo de Roo (NED)
1964  Tom Simpson (GBR)  Rudi Altig (GER)  Peter Post (NED)  Willy Blocklandt (BEL)  Gianni Motta (ITA)
1965  Arie den Hartog (NED)  Jo De Roo (NED)  Rik van Looy (BEL)  Carmine Preziosi (ITA)  Tom Simpson (GBR)
1966  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Edward Sels (BEL)  Felice Gimondi (ITA)  Jacques Anquetil (FRA)  Felice Gimondi (ITA)
1967  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Dino Zandegù (ITA)  Jan Janssen (NED)  Walter Godefroot (BEL)  Franco Bitossi (ITA)
1968  Rudi Altig (GER)  Walter Godefroot (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Walter Van Sweefelt (BEL)  Herman van Springel (BEL)
1969  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Walter Godefroot (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Jean-Pierre Monseré (BEL)
1970  Michele Dancelli (ITA)  Eric Leman (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Franco Bitossi (ITA)
1971  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Evert Dolman (NED)  Roger Rosiers (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)
1972  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Eric Leman (BEL)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)
1973  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Eric Leman (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Felice Gimondi (ITA)
1974  Felice Gimondi (ITA)  Kees Bal (NED)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Georges Pintens (BEL)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)
1975  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Francesco Moser (ITA)
1976  Eddy Merckx (BEL)  Walter Planckaert (BEL)  Marc Demeyer (BEL)  Joseph Bruyère (BEL)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)
1977  Jan Raas (NED)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Bernard Hinault (FRA)  Gianbattista Baronchelli (ITA)
1978  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Walter Godefroot (BEL)  Francesco Moser (ITA)  Joseph Bruyère (BEL)  Francesco Moser (ITA)
1979  Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)  Jan Raas (NED)  Francesco Moser (ITA)  Dietrich Thurau (GER)  Bernard Hinault (FRA)
1980  Pierino Gavazzi (ITA)  Michel Pollentier (BEL)  Francesco Moser (ITA)  Bernard Hinault (FRA)  Fons De Wolf (BEL)
1981  Fons De Wolf (BEL)  Hennie Kuiper (NED)  Bernard Hinault (FRA)  Josef Fuchs (SUI)  Hennie Kuiper (NED)
1982  Marc Gomez (FRA)  René Martens (BEL)  Jan Raas (NED)  Silvano Contini (ITA)  Giuseppe Saronni (ITA)
1983  Giuseppe Saronni (ITA)  Jan Raas (NED)  Hennie Kuiper (NED)  Steven Rooks (NED)  Sean Kelly (IRL)
1984  Francesco Moser (ITA)  Johan Lammerts (NED)  Sean Kelly (IRL)  Sean Kelly (IRL)  Bernard Hinault (FRA)
1985  Hennie Kuiper (NED)  Eric Vanderaerden (BEL)  Marc Madiot (FRA)  Moreno Argentin (ITA)  Sean Kelly (IRL)
1986  Sean Kelly (IRL)  Adri van der Poel (NED)  Sean Kelly (IRL)  Moreno Argentin (ITA)  Gianbattista Baronchelli (ITA)
1987  Erich Mächler (SUI)  Claude Criquielion (BEL)  Eric Vanderaerden (BEL)  Moreno Argentin (ITA)  Moreno Argentin (ITA)
1988  Laurent Fignon (FRA)  Eddy Planckaert (BEL)  Dirk Demol (BEL)  Adri van der Poel (NED)  Charly Mottet (FRA)
1989  Laurent Fignon (FRA)  Edwig van Hooydonck (BEL)  Jean-Marie Wampers (BEL)  Sean Kelly (IRL)  Tony Rominger (SUI)
1990  Gianni Bugno (ITA)  Moreno Argentin (ITA)  Eddy Planckaert (BEL)  Eric van Lancker (BEL)  Gilles Delion (FRA)
1991  Claudio Chiappucci (ITA)  Edwig van Hooydonck (BEL)  Marc Madiot (FRA)  Moreno Argentin (ITA)  Sean Kelly (IRL)
1992  Sean Kelly (IRL)  Jacky Durand (FRA)  Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)  Dirk de Wolf (BEL)  Tony Rominger (SUI)
1993  Maurizio Fondriest (ITA)  Johan Museeuw (BEL)  Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)  Rolf Sørensen (DEN)  Pascal Richard (SUI)
1994  Giorgio Furlan (ITA)  Gianni Bugno (ITA)  Andrei Tchmil (UKR)  Evgeni Berzin (RUS)  Viatcheslav Bobrik (RUS)
1995  Laurent Jalabert (FRA)  Johan Museeuw (BEL)  Franco Ballerini (ITA)  Mauro Gianetti (SUI)  Gianni Faresin (ITA)
1996  Gabriele Colombo (ITA)  Michele Bartoli (ITA)  Johan Museeuw (BEL)  Pascal Richard (SUI)  Andrea Tafi (ITA)
1997  Erik Zabel (GER)  Rolf Sørensen (DEN)  Frédéric Guesdon (FRA)  Michele Bartoli (ITA)  Laurent Jalabert (FRA)
1998  Erik Zabel (GER)  Johan Museeuw (BEL)  Franco Ballerini (ITA)  Michele Bartoli (ITA)  Oscar Camenzind (SUI)
1999  Andrei Tchmil (BEL)  Peter Van Petegem (BEL)  Andrea Tafi (ITA)  Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL)  Mirko Celestino (ITA)
2000  Erik Zabel (GER)  Andrei Tchmil (BEL)  Johan Museeuw (BEL)  Paolo Bettini (ITA)  Raimondas Rumšas (LTU)
2001  Erik Zabel (GER)  Gianluca Bortolami (ITA)  Servais Knaven (NED)  Oscar Camenzind (SUI)  Danilo Di Luca (ITA)
2002  Mario Cipollini (ITA)  Andrea Tafi (ITA)  Johan Museeuw (BEL)  Paolo Bettini (ITA)  Michele Bartoli (ITA)
2003  Paolo Bettini (ITA)  Peter Van Petegem (BEL)  Peter Van Petegem (BEL)  Tyler Hamilton (USA)  Michele Bartoli (ITA)
2004  Óscar Freire (ESP)  Steffen Wesemann (GER)  Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE)  Davide Rebellin (ITA)  Damiano Cunego (ITA)
2005  Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)  Tom Boonen (BEL)  Tom Boonen (BEL)  Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)  Paolo Bettini (ITA)
2006  Filippo Pozzato (ITA)  Tom Boonen (BEL)  Fabian Cancellara (SUI)  Alejandro Valverde (ESP)  Paolo Bettini (ITA)
2007  Óscar Freire (ESP)  Alessandro Ballan (ITA)  Stuart O'Grady (AUS)  Danilo Di Luca (ITA)  Damiano Cunego (ITA)
2008  Fabian Cancellara (SUI)  Stijn Devolder (BEL)  Tom Boonen (BEL)  Alejandro Valverde (ESP)  Damiano Cunego (ITA)
2009  Mark Cavendish (GBR)  Stijn Devolder (BEL)  Tom Boonen (BEL)  Andy Schleck (LUX)  Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
2010  Óscar Freire (ESP)  Fabian Cancellara (SUI)  Fabian Cancellara (SUI)  Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)  Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
2011  Matthew Goss (AUS)  Nick Nuyens (BEL)  Johan Vansummeren (BEL)  Philippe Gilbert (BEL)  Oliver Zaugg (SUI)

See also

References

  1. ^ Cycling Hall of Fame: Introduction, 2010, http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/gen_info.asp, retrieved 2010-07-12 
  2. ^ Cycling Monuments, 2010, http://www.trails.com/list_31612_cycling-monuments.html, retrieved 2010-07-12 
  3. ^ "Cancellara dreams of all winning all five of cycling monuments", CyclingNews.com, 2010, http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-dreams-of-all-winning-all-five-of-cycling-monuments, retrieved 2010-07-12 

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