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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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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Dwars Door Vlaanderen organisers place barriers on cycle path to force riders onto the cobbles
Dwars Door Vlaanderen organisers have taken action to prevent riders making illegal use of cycle paths to avoid cobbles, placing barriers across the paths.
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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Seven things we're looking forward to
The Spring Classics kick off this weekend with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Saturday, February 25) and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (Sunday, February 26) - we can't wait
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Mathieu van der Poel will continue Classics campaign after nasty crash in Nokere Koerse
Mathieu van der Poel will ride the cobbled Classics after a huge crash in the final of Nokere Koerse.
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Lorena Wiebes opens her 2020 account with victory at Omloop van het Hageland
The Dutch champion won the sprint after the aggressive race came back together on the final 15km lap
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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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Fractured rib puts Andre Greipel's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne ride in doubt
Andre Greipel suffers a fractured rib in a crash on stage four of the Volta ao Algarve which could put him in doubt for Sunday's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
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Geraint Thomas: E3 Harelbeke win is best of my career
Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas ranks his win at E3 Harelbeke as the best of his career on the road and says the victory gives him confidence for the rest of the Classics season
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Team Sky not favourites for Paris-Roubaix, insists Knaven
Sports director and former winner of the race says that a decision has not yet been made on who will lead Sky at Paris-Roubaix
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Dylan Groenewegen sprints to Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne victory as breakaway caught with 150m to go
Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) continued his stellar start to the 2018 season with an excellent victory in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
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A weekend to forget for John Degenkolb
Giant-Alpecin's John Degenkolb questions why Sunday's Ghent-Wevelgem wasn't neutralised as strong winds decimated the peloton
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Niki Terpstra takes solo win at Le Samyn, Scott Thwaites second
The Dutchman broke away with 18km to go
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Adam Blythe stages remarkable recovery from late puncture to finish second in Nokere Koerse
British champion Adam Blythe recovered from a late puncture to finish second in Nokere Koerse, with the race won by Nacer Bouhanni.
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Peter Sagan: I've still got room for improvement after opening weekend of cobbled Classics
Two-time world champion Peter Sagan says he still wants his form to improve after taking his first victory of the season at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
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Cancellara out of Classics after E3 Harelbeke crash
The Swiss Classics specialist was forced to abandon after a heavy crash
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Eddie Dunbar becomes first Irish winner of under-23 Tour of Flanders
Ireland's Eddie Dunbar soloed to victory in Saturday's U23 Tour of Flanders, to score a first win in the event for his home country
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Shane Archbold overcomes high speed crash to finish Paris-Roubaix
Bloodied and bruised, Shane Archbold overcomes a high speed crash to finish his debut Paris-Roubaix
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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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Epic days: Floods at the 1985 Tour of Flanders
With fewer than 25 riders making it to the finish, the 1985 Ronde was brutal even by Flandrian standards, writes Mick McMahon
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No sexist poster for E3 Harelbeke 2017, as race goes for tattooed child instead
E3 Harelbeke has made the wise decision to eschew a sexist poster in 2017, instead going for a poster of a tattooed boy readying himself for battle.
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Mathieu van der Poel says ‘it’s a small miracle he’s back on the bike’ after high-speed crash
Mathieu van der Poel says ‘it’s a small miracle he’s back on the bike again’ after his high-speed crash earlier this week.
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Tom Boonen's custom Het Nieuwsblad bike: 'there's no danger in discs'
Tom Boonen unveils his custom Specialized Venge ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and dismisses claims that disc brakes are dangerous
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E3 Saxo Bank Classic and Ghent-Wevelgem organisers worried races could be cancelled due to Covid-19
E3 Saxo Bank Classic and Ghent-Wevelgem could be joining the list of races either to be cancelled or postponed due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Belgium in recent weeks and months
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Miss the old Tour of Flanders? Omloop Het Nieuwsblad returns to Muur van Geraardsbergen finale
The 2018 edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will allow fans to enjoy the old finale of the Tour of Flanders, with the Muur van Geraardsbergen at centre stage.
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Sep Vanmarcke confident ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
2012 winner Vanmarcke feels his condition is in the right place as he begins his Classics campaign
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'Proper bike racing - everyone loves it': Chris Lawless can't wait to take on the cobbles this weekend
Team Sky new recruit Chris Lawless will line up for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday for his first cobbled classic as a pro rider
