Cobbled Classics
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
By Tom Davidson Published
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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.
By Tom Davidson Last updated
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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
By Jonny Long Published
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Fabian Cancellara: 'It's happy Easter, but not happy Ghent-Wevelgem day'
Fabian Cancellara says he's remaining calm ahead of the Tour of Flanders after missing out on podiums at E3 Harelbeke and Ghent-Wevelgem
By Gregor Brown Published
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Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2015 start list
Provisional list of starters for the 2015 edition of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, March 1
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Mark Cavendish will not defend Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne title
Mark Cavendish will not defend his Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne title on 28 February as his Dimension Data outfit were not named among the 25 teams for the race
By Cycling Weekly Published
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Elia Viviani wins Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde with amazing sprint finish
Quick-Step Floors sprinter Elia Viviani takes the victory in an action-packed Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde affected by crosswinds
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Muur van Geraardsbergen returns to spring line-up, but not where you think
The iconic cobbled climb will appear in the 2016 edition of the Three Days of De Panne for the first time
By Jack Elton-Walters Published
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Mark Cavendish's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne win in pictures
Mark Cavendish took his sixth win of the 2015 season at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in Belgium. Photos by Graham Watson
By Nigel Wynn Published
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2016 Scheldeprijs start list
Provisional start list for the 2016 Scheldeprijs one-day classic (April 4)
By Richard Windsor Published
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Scheldeprijs champ Marcel Kittel coy on Giro schedule
By Sophie Smith Published
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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2020 weather forecast: Peloton can expect to be battered by gusts and downpours
We could be in for a show this Opening Weekend, as the Classics get underway with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
By Alex Ballinger Published
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Watch: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2018 highlights
Video highlights from the 2018 edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the opening race of the cobbled classics in Belgium
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Five things to look out for at E3 Harelbeke and Ghent-Wevelgem
A look at what could occur at the Belgian cobbled Classics weekend of E3 Harelbeke and Ghent-Wevelgem
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
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Devastated Elia Viviani admits he missed one of the biggest chances of his career at Ghent-Wevelgem
Italian sprinter left visibly upset after missing out on taking a sprint victory at the prestigious one-day Belgian race
By Gregor Brown Published
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Spring Classics organisers introduce additional measures to reduce threat of terror attacks
Flanders Classics and organisers of other Belgian spring races will block off the entrance to the race for all vehicles and check bags in public zones.
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
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Etixx-QuickStep still hunting for big Classics win
Belgian team Etixx-QuickStep looking for victories closer to home during the Classics season
By Gregor Brown Published
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Belgian rider Antoine Demoitié dies in hospital after Ghent-Wevelgem crash
Team Wanty-Groupe Gobert
By Richard Windsor Published
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10 riders to look out for at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
The first cobbled Classics come around this weekend and we've taken a look at some of the riders who will be looking to do well at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Tim Merlier: 'Mathieu van der Poel came to us and said he was not good, I thought he was joking'
Van der Poel lost touch with the main favourites group of the Knokteberg in the final 30km and drifted back to the peloton
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
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Chantal Blaak takes victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women for Boels-Dolmans
Dutch team Boels-Dolmans laid down a marker on Saturday, with former road world champion Chantal Blaak winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad by more than a minute.
By Owen Rogers Published
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Annemiek van Vleuten wins the Tour of Flanders with a signature long range move
Annemiek van Vleuten won the Tour of Flanders for the second time with a signature attack on Sunday.
By Owen Rogers Published
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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
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
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Johan Museeuw backs Tom Boonen to rediscover Classics form
While Tom Boonen was outpaced by Ian Stannard this weekend, Johan Museeuw insists a win at Het Nieuwsblad is not Boonen's main goal
By Stuart Clarke Published
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The 14 best cobbled climbs in the UK
Everyone knows about the cobbles in Northern France and Belgium, but what about those stretches of cobbled climbs on our very own shores?
By Richard Abraham Published
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Bradley Wiggins's guide to Paris-Roubaix
Team Sky's leader previews one of the toughest events in cycling ahead of his final weekend as a WorldTour rider
By Gregor Brown Published
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Greg Van Avermaet battles with Philippe Gilbert and Oliver Naesen to win E3 Harelbeke
The three Belgians reached the finishing straight together and sprinted it out for victory at E3 Harelbeke
By Richard Windsor Published
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Greg Van Avermaet's Ghent-Wevelgem Strava file shows his devastating speed
See what it took to win the 2017 edition of Ghent-Wevelgem with Greg Van Avermaet's Strava stats
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Geraint Thomas reflects on missed opportunities in Tour of Flanders
Not making the decisive break disappointed Geraint Thomas who targeted the win at the Tour of Flanders
By Nigel Wynn Published