Classic race facts for kids
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
| Race | Country | Started | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan-Sanremo |  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 |  Belgium |
1913 | The first of the 'Spring Classics', is normally raced in early April. | |
| Paris-Roubaix |  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 |  Netherlands |
1966 | Normally held mid-April. | |
| La Flèche Wallonne | Belgium |
1936 | The Walloon Arrow is traditionally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. | |
| Liège-Bastogne-Liège | 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 |  Germany |
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| Clásica de San Sebastián |  Spain |
San Sebastian Classic | ||
| Züri-Metzgete |  Switzerland |
Championship of Zürich | ||
| Paris-Brussels | France/ Belgium |
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| Paris-Tours | France |
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| Giro di Lombardia | 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'
Five of the classic races are sometimes called "the Monuments"
- Milan-Sanremo Italy
- Ronde van Vlaanderen Belgium
- Paris-Roubaix France
- Liège-Bastogne-Liège Belgium
- Giro di Lombardia Italy
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).
| 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) |
| 2012 | Simon Gerrans (AUS) |
Tom Boonen (BEL) |
Tom Boonen (BEL) |
Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ) |
Related pages
- List of important cycling events
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Classic race Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.