The Cobbled Classics are steeped in as much prestige and history as the Grand Tours of cycling, and offer the chance for the bigger, more explosive riders a chance to write their name into the annals of cycling legend.
2018, like any year, will see an exciting spring campaign fought out between some of the world's toughest riders.
But there's more to the cobbled Classics than Flanders and Roubaix. Riders begin a long build-up to the two monuments from late February, as cycling's one-day specialists flock to Belgium for an opening double header of semi-Classics, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and one usually for the sprinters, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
The cobbles then traditionally take a break through most of March, as riders head to the likes of Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as the first monument of the year, Milan-San Remo (March 17).
The cobbled Classics then come thick and fast with three in a week.
E3 Harelbeke kicks things off on Friday, March 23, then it's on to Ghent-Wevelgem the following Sunday (March 25).
Ghent-Wevelgem, like the Scheldeprijs which sits on the Wednesday between Flanders and Roubaix, is one of the Belgian Classics that favours sprinters like Marcel Kittel and Mark Cavendish, featuring fewer climbs to create a fast-paced day.
Then it's semi-classic Dwars door Vlaanderen (March 28), generally the closest thing riders will come to the Tour of Flanders ahead of the race itself, with the course often including many of the same bergs, oudes and muurs like the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg.
The 2018 Cobbled Classics
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Feb 24 (WorldTour) | Winner: Michael Valgren | Report
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Feb 25 (1.HC) | Winner: Dylan Groenewegen | Report
E3 Harelbeke, Mar 23 (WorldTour) | Winner: Niki Terpstra | Report
Ghent-Wevelgem, Mar 25 (WorldTour) | Winner: Peter Sagan | Report
Dwars door Vlaanderen, Mar 28 (1.1) | Winner: Yves Lampaert | Report
Tour of Flanders, Apr 1 (WorldTour) | Winner: Niki Terpstra | Report
Scheldeprijs, Apr 4 (1.HC) | Winner: Fabio Jakobsen | Report
Paris-Roubaix, Apr 8 (WorldTour) | Winner: Peter Sagan | Report
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I rode every cobbled street in my city and punctured twice, but I still can't resist the rumble of the stones
Forget smooth tarmac, it's cobble season
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Biniam Girmay takes momentous sprint victory at Gent-Wevelgem
The Eritrean etched his name in history as the first African rider to win the spring classic.
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How to watch Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2022: Live stream the first cobbled Classic of the season
If you can't be in Belgium for Opening Weekend you might as well watch it on the TV
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Dylan van Baarle puts in impressive solo ride to win Dwars door Vlaanderen 2021
Dylan van Baarle came out on top at Dwars Door Vlaanderen 2021 after going on a long-range solo effort with around 50km to go
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Bora-Hansgrohe pull out of E3 Saxo Bank Classic due to positive Covid test
Bora-Hansgrohe have announced that their team will not be taking part in this year's E3 Saxo Bank Classic due to a positive Covid-19 test for one of their riders.
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No fans at Tour of Flanders and other Classics in 2021, according to organisers
There will be no fans at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Ghent-Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Scheldeprijs or Brabantse Pijl in 2021
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'You wrong all those Flemish people': Muur cut from 2020 Tour of Flanders
Race organisers say they are wary of making the race too long in light of the revised calendar
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Greg Van Avermaet wins virtual Tour of Flanders 2020
The Belgian took an emphatic win as he finished alone in the lockdown version of the Monument
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Moment in time: Coryn Rivera becomes the first American to win the Tour of Flanders
The Californian shares her memories from 2017 of a dream day in Belgium
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'I don't think it's realistic': Tour of Flanders is latest race heading towards cancellation
It would be the first time since 1918 that the race hasn't been held
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Hugo Hofstetter takes the win at Le Samyn 2020 in a reduced bunch sprint
French sprinter takes second career win and Israel Start-Up Nation's third win this season
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Power data reveals more about the huge attacks put in during Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
The 2020 Opening Weekend was an exciting start to the new Classics campaign, as we saw some of the favourites fighting hard on the winding Belgian roads.
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Jasper Stuyven outsprints Yves Lampaert to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad victory
The Belgian proved to be the strongest of the pair in the two-up sprint
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Annemiek van Vleuten wins a gritty Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in the rainbow stripes
The Dutchwoman attacked on the Kapelmuur 17km from the line to take the win in her first race of the year
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Mathieu van der Poel forced to skip Opening Weekend
Mathieu van der Poel will miss Opening Weekend because of illness, his team have announced.
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Spring Classics 2019 ratings: How did each WorldTour team perform?
Here's how the team's stacked up in the 2019 spring Classics season
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Mathieu van der Poel takes first WorldTour victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen 2019
Mathieu van der Poel put in a commanding performance at Dwars door Vlaanderen to take the first WorldTour victory of his career.
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Six things we learned from the 2019 Ghent-Wevelgem
We reflect on a fast an exhilarating Ghent-Wevelgem 2019
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Ghent-Wevelgem performance gives Luke Rowe hope ahead of Tour of Flanders
The Welshman says there can "be a bit of excitement going into Flanders"
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Stray water bottle destroyed Peter Sagan's E3 chances, says team director
"This race is a lottery so soon after Milan-San Remo," says Sagan after his 17th place in Harelbeke, Belgium
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Zdeněk Štybar takes E3 BinckBank Classic 2019 as Deceuninck-Quick-Step win again
Štybar adds E3 victory to his win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2019 ahead of the Tour of Flanders
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Five things to look out for at the 2019 E3 BinckBank Classic and Ghent-Wevelgem
Five things to keep your eye on ahead of this week's two big Belgian spring Classics
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What makes a Monument? The pros give their verdicts
There are five special days on the cycling calendar that stand above all others in prestige, history and brutality.
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Five things we learned from the 2019 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
From a dominant Quick-Step to a breakthrough Owain Doull - here are the talking points from opening weekend
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Bob Jungels' solo Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne win makes perfect weekend for Deceuninck - Quick-Step
Bob Jungels made it two out of two for Deceuninck - Quick-Step’s opening classics weekend, winning alone at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday.
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Zdenek Štybar opens Deceuninck - Quick-Step's Classics account at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Zdenek Štybar opened Deceuninck-Quick Step’s classics account at the first opportunity on Saturday, winning an enthralling 74th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
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Spring Classics 2018 ratings: How did each team perform?
We rate the WorldTour teams' performances at the 2018 spring Classics
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Tour of Flanders odds: Who are the bookmakers tipping for victory?
Tour of Flanders odds: Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet lead the betting ahead of the 2018 Tour of Flanders, with Philippe Gilbert also rated highly.
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Yves Lampaert successfully defends his title in wet and windy edition of Dwars Door Vlaanderen
Yves Lampaert delivered a successful defence of his Dwars Door Vlaanderen crown as he took victory in a wet and windy edition of the cobbled race.
