Classic race

The classic cycle races are the most important one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar (list of races)

All of the races are run in western Europe. Most of the events have been 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 top races are sometimes described as the 'Monuments'.

From 2005, the Classics have formed part of the UCI ProTour run by the Union Cycliste Internationale. This event series also includes various stage races including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, Paris-Nice and the Critérium de Dauphiné Libéré, and various non-Classic single day events. The ProTour replaced the UCI Road World Cup series which contained only one-day races.

The Classics[change]

Race	Country	Started	Notes
Milan-Sanremo	File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy	1907	The first true Classic of the year, its Italian name is La Primavera (the spring), this race is normally held in late March. .
Ronde van Vlaanderen	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium	1913	The first of the 'Spring Classics', is normally raced in early April.
Paris-Roubaix	File:Flag of France.svg France	1896	La Reine ("Queen of the Classics") or l'Enfer du Nord ("Hell of the North") is traditionally one week after the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Amstel Gold Race	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands	1966	Normally held mid-April.
La Flèche Wallonne	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium	1936	The Walloon Arrow is traditionally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium	1892	late April. La Doyenne, the oldest Classic, was first held in 1892 as an amateur event; a professional edition following in 1894.
Rund um den Henninger Turm	File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Clásica de San Sebastián	File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain		San Sebastian Classic
Züri-Metzgete	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland		Championship of Zürich
Paris-Brussels	File:Flag of France.svg France/File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Paris-Tours	File:Flag of France.svg France
Giro di Lombardia	File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy	1905	Also known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves", is normally held in October. First called the Milano-Milano (Milan to Milan) in 1905, it became the Giro di Lombardia in 1907.

Some races that were Classics are no longer run. These include the gruelling (very hard) 560km, Derny event, Bordeaux-Paris, run from 1891 to 1988.

The 'Monuments'[change]

Five of the classic races are sometimes called "the Monuments"

Only three riders have won all five 'Monument' one-day races during their careers: Roger De Vlaeminck, Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx. All were from Belgium.

Seán Kelly of Ireland won four Monuments but only finished second in the Ronde van Vlaanderen on three occasions (1984,1986,1987).

Monument winners since 1960
Year	Milan – San Remo	Tour of Flanders	Paris–Roubaix	Liège–Bastogne–Liège	Giro di Lombardia
1960	File:Flag of France.svg René Privat (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Arthur De Cabooter (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Pino Cerami (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Albertus Geldermans (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Emile Daems (BEL)
1961	File:Flag of France.svg Raymond Poulidor (FRA)	File:Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg Tom Simpson (GBR)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rik van Looy (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rik van Looy (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Vito Taccone (ITA)
1962	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Emile Daems (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rik van Looy (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rik van Looy (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jef Planckaert (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jo de Roo (NED)
1963	File:Flag of France.svg Joseph Groussard (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Noel Foré (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Emile Daems (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frans Melckenbeeck (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jo de Roo (NED)
1964	File:Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg Tom Simpson (GBR)	File:Flag of Germany.svg Rudi Altig (GER)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Post (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Willy Blocklandt (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Motta (ITA)
1965	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Arie den Hartog (NED)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jo De Roo (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rik van Looy (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Carmine Preziosi (ITA)	File:Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg Tom Simpson (GBR)
1966	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Edward Sels (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Felice Gimondi (ITA)	File:Flag of France.svg Jacques Anquetil (FRA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Felice Gimondi (ITA)
1967	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Dino Zandegù (ITA)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Janssen (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Walter Godefroot (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Franco Bitossi (ITA)
1968	File:Flag of Germany.svg Rudi Altig (GER)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Walter Godefroot (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Walter Van Sweefelt (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Herman van Springel (BEL)
1969	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Walter Godefroot (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jean-Pierre Monseré (BEL)
1970	File:Flag of Italy.svg Michele Dancelli (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric Leman (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Franco Bitossi (ITA)
1971	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Evert Dolman (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger Rosiers (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)
1972	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric Leman (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)
1973	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric Leman (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Felice Gimondi (ITA)
1974	File:Flag of Italy.svg Felice Gimondi (ITA)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Kees Bal (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Georges Pintens (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)
1975	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Moser (ITA)
1976	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Merckx (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Walter Planckaert (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Marc Demeyer (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joseph Bruyère (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)
1977	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Raas (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of France.svg Bernard Hinault (FRA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gianbattista Baronchelli (ITA)
1978	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Walter Godefroot (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Moser (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joseph Bruyère (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Moser (ITA)
1979	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Raas (NED)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Moser (ITA)	File:Flag of Germany.svg Dietrich Thurau (GER)	File:Flag of France.svg Bernard Hinault (FRA)
1980	File:Flag of Italy.svg Pierino Gavazzi (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Michel Pollentier (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Moser (ITA)	File:Flag of France.svg Bernard Hinault (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Fons De Wolf (BEL)
1981	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Fons De Wolf (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Hennie Kuiper (NED)	File:Flag of France.svg Bernard Hinault (FRA)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Josef Fuchs (SUI)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Hennie Kuiper (NED)
1982	File:Flag of France.svg Marc Gomez (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg René Martens (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Raas (NED)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Silvano Contini (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe Saronni (ITA)
1983	File:Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe Saronni (ITA)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Raas (NED)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Hennie Kuiper (NED)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Steven Rooks (NED)	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)
1984	File:Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Moser (ITA)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Johan Lammerts (NED)	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)	File:Flag of France.svg Bernard Hinault (FRA)
1985	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Hennie Kuiper (NED)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric Vanderaerden (BEL)	File:Flag of France.svg Marc Madiot (FRA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Moreno Argentin (ITA)	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)
1986	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Adri van der Poel (NED)	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Moreno Argentin (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gianbattista Baronchelli (ITA)
1987	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Erich Mächler (SUI)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Claude Criquielion (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric Vanderaerden (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Moreno Argentin (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Moreno Argentin (ITA)
1988	File:Flag of France.svg Laurent Fignon (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Planckaert (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dirk Demol (BEL)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Adri van der Poel (NED)	File:Flag of France.svg Charly Mottet (FRA)
1989	File:Flag of France.svg Laurent Fignon (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Edwig van Hooydonck (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jean-Marie Wampers (BEL)	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Tony Rominger (SUI)
1990	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Bugno (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Moreno Argentin (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eddy Planckaert (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric van Lancker (BEL)	File:Flag of France.svg Gilles Delion (FRA)
1991	File:Flag of Italy.svg Claudio Chiappucci (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Edwig van Hooydonck (BEL)	File:Flag of France.svg Marc Madiot (FRA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Moreno Argentin (ITA)	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)
1992	File:Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly (IRL)	File:Flag of France.svg Jacky Durand (FRA)	File:Flag of France.svg Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dirk de Wolf (BEL)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Tony Rominger (SUI)
1993	File:Flag of Italy.svg Maurizio Fondriest (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johan Museeuw (BEL)	File:Flag of France.svg Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)	File:Flag of Denmark.svg Rolf Sørensen (DEN)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Pascal Richard (SUI)
1994	File:Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Furlan (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Bugno (ITA)	File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Andrei Tchmil (UKR)	File:Flag of Russia.svg Evgeni Berzin (RUS)	File:Flag of Russia.svg Viatcheslav Bobrik (RUS)
1995	File:Flag of France.svg Laurent Jalabert (FRA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johan Museeuw (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Franco Ballerini (ITA)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Mauro Gianetti (SUI)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Faresin (ITA)
1996	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Colombo (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Michele Bartoli (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johan Museeuw (BEL)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Pascal Richard (SUI)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Tafi (ITA)
1997	File:Flag of Germany.svg Erik Zabel (GER)	File:Flag of Denmark.svg Rolf Sørensen (DEN)	File:Flag of France.svg Frédéric Guesdon (FRA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Michele Bartoli (ITA)	File:Flag of France.svg Laurent Jalabert (FRA)
1998	File:Flag of Germany.svg Erik Zabel (GER)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johan Museeuw (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Franco Ballerini (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Michele Bartoli (ITA)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Oscar Camenzind (SUI)
1999	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Andrei Tchmil (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Peter Van Petegem (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Tafi (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Mirko Celestino (ITA)
2000	File:Flag of Germany.svg Erik Zabel (GER)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Andrei Tchmil (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johan Museeuw (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Bettini (ITA)	File:Flag of Lithuania.svg Raimondas Rumšas (LTU)
2001	File:Flag of Germany.svg Erik Zabel (GER)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Gianluca Bortolami (ITA)	File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Servais Knaven (NED)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Oscar Camenzind (SUI)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Di Luca (ITA)
2002	File:Flag of Italy.svg Mario Cipollini (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Tafi (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johan Museeuw (BEL)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Bettini (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Michele Bartoli (ITA)
2003	File:Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Bettini (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Peter Van Petegem (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Peter Van Petegem (BEL)	File:Flag of the United States.svg Tyler Hamilton (USA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Michele Bartoli (ITA)
2004	File:Flag of Spain.svg Óscar Freire (ESP)	File:Flag of Germany.svg Steffen Wesemann (GER)	File:Flag of Sweden.svg Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Davide Rebellin (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Damiano Cunego (ITA)
2005	File:Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tom Boonen (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tom Boonen (BEL)	File:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Bettini (ITA)
2006	File:Flag of Italy.svg Filippo Pozzato (ITA)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tom Boonen (BEL)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fabian Cancellara (SUI)	File:Flag of Spain.svg Alejandro Valverde (ESP)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Bettini (ITA)
2007	File:Flag of Spain.svg Óscar Freire (ESP)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Ballan (ITA)	File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Stuart O'Grady (AUS)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Di Luca (ITA)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Damiano Cunego (ITA)
2008	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fabian Cancellara (SUI)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Stijn Devolder (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tom Boonen (BEL)	File:Flag of Spain.svg Alejandro Valverde (ESP)	File:Flag of Italy.svg Damiano Cunego (ITA)
2009	File:Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg Mark Cavendish (GBR)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Stijn Devolder (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tom Boonen (BEL)	File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Andy Schleck (LUX)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
2010	File:Flag of Spain.svg Óscar Freire (ESP)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fabian Cancellara (SUI)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fabian Cancellara (SUI)	File:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
2011	File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matthew Goss (AUS)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Nick Nuyens (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johan Vansummeren (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Philippe Gilbert (BEL)	File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Oliver Zaugg (SUI)
2012	File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Gerrans (AUS)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tom Boonen (BEL)	File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tom Boonen (BEL)	File:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ)

Related pages[change]

List of important cycling events