Spring And Summer Cycling Events To Look Out For In 2024
Cycling is one of the most entertaining ways to stay fit and explore the outdoors; however, it is also an excellent watch. Several road cycle racing competitions worldwide, such as the Tour de France, have made the sport attractive.
Many popular cycle races occur during spring and summer, making for exciting watches and excellent days out. At Fawkes Cycles, we explain the Classics and Grand Tours and which races are the most popular.
Table of contents
- What are classic cycle races?
- What are the five Monuments?
- What are the biggest cycle races?
- What are the three Grand Tours?
What are classic cycle races?
Classic cycle races are the most prestigious one-day professional road races held during a calendar year. They usually take place around the same time and are always held in Western Europe.
Several races are constituted as Classics, with various races grouped into categories such as the spring Classics, cobbled Classics, and Ardennes Classics. Although there is no set definition for establishing a certain race as a Classic, they are one of the best times of the year for cycling fans.
The five most popular Classics are called the cycling ‘Monuments’, so read on to find out which races fall into this category.
What are the five Monuments?
These five iconic races make up what is known as the cycling Monuments. They are differentiated from other one-day races due to their magnificence, reputation, and history. Because the Monuments take place over the course of a day, they must be treated with the utmost importance, as riders only have one chance to win.
Aside from the three Grand Tours, winning one of the Monuments is among the best and most esteemed achievements of a cyclist’s career. The Monuments tests and pushes the limits of every rider, with only three cyclists having won all five Monuments: Rik Van Looy, Roger De Vlaeminck and Eddy Merckx.
Milan-San Remo
Passing through the beautiful regions of Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria in Northern Italy, the Milan-San Remo negotiates through stunning hills and coastal roads. The race spans approximately 300 kilometres and is the longest of the Monuments, kicking off the cycling season in mid-March.
Milan-San Remo begins as a flat journey before reaching the steep ascents of the iconic Poggio and Cipressa climbs. A nail-biting descent brings cyclists to the race’s conclusion, often decided by a sprint finish on San Remo’s esteemed shopping street, Via Roma.
Tour of Flanders
The Tour of Flanders, also known as De Ronde van Vlaanderen, takes place in the Flanders region of Belgium and is regarded as one of the cobbled Classics.
The race takes place in early April, requiring riders to showcase outstanding strength, handling and tenacity as they battle their way through the cobblestone streets and winding roads. The Tour of Flanders is hugely popular, as thousands of fans flock to bars and town squares to watch the riders battle it out.
Paris-Roubaix
In France, the Paris-Roubaix one-day race is renowned as L’Enfer du Nord, which translates to the ‘Hell of the North’. The race is regarded as one of the most brutal cycle races, pushing riders to the limits of their physical ability and mental toughness.
Riders must fight through mud and difficult cobblestone roads, requiring participants to stay mentally solid throughout.
The iconic Trouée d’Arenberg and Carrefour de l’Arbre sections of the race are considered the toughest to conquer. These two fabled battlegrounds truly define a champion.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège
The oldest of the five Monuments, the Liege-Bastogne-Liege is a climber’s dream that traverses the hilly woodlands of the Belgian Ardennes. Dubbed ‘The Old Lady’, this Monument is known for its persistent, consecutive climbs that drain riders of their power after each one.
The most famous climbs, the Côte de la Redoute and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons are packed with thousands of fans who want to see riders battle it out in a test of skill and tactical sharpness.
Giro di Lombardia
Known in Italy as ‘Classica della foglie morte’ or ‘The race of the falling leaves’, the Giro di Lombardia provides a remarkable end to the year’s racing calendar. Showcasing the stunning surroundings of Northern Italy, this race tests cyclists’ climbing and descending abilities in the hills adjacent to Lake Como.
The Madonna del Ghisallo is the most famous climb in this race, taking riders through the beautiful, hilly landscapes. The Giro di Lombardia allows the winning rider to end their year basked in glory.
What are the biggest cycle races?
There are three major European professional cycle races, often called Grand Tours. The three Grand Tours are the ‘Tour de France’, ‘Vuelta a Espana’, and the ‘Giro d’Italia’, which take place in France, Spain, and Italy, respectively.Grand Tours are prestigious cycling achievements contested in daily stages over a three-week format. Jerseys are given to the general classification leader, points classification leader, King of the Mountain, and best young rider classification for each race.
What are the three Grand Tours?
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España was inspired by the success of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia and came to fruition in 1935. Taking place between August and September, La Vuelta is competed over 21-day stages with two rest days.
The route takes riders through Spain and nearby countries, providing beautiful views of the Spanish countryside. Leaders of the general classification wear red jerseys or maillot rojo.
Giro d’Italia
The race was first organised in 1909 to increase sales for La Gazzetta dello Sport and has been held annually since. Like the other Grand Tours, present-day race editions comprise 21-day stages with two or three rest days.The Giro d’Italia travels through Italy and neighbouring countries, making up one-third of the Triple Crown of Cycling, alongside the Tour de France and UCI Road World Championship. General classification leaders of the Giro d’Italia wear maglia rosa, a pink jersey that denotes the colour because La Gazzetta dello Sport is printed on pink paper.
Tour de France
Often considered the most prestigious cycling achievement, the Tour de France takes place in July and is part of the Triple Crown of Cycling.
The race travels around France while sometimes visiting neighbouring countries, taking riders through the stunning Pyrenees and Alps before culminating with the iconic sprint finish on the fabled Champs-Élysées.
Le Tour has one of the most coveted cycling prizes, the yellow jersey or maillot jaune, given to the general classification leader.
Get involved with cycling at Fawkes Cycles
The Monuments and Grand Tours are the most esteemed races during the cycling season. They are an excellent way to get involved with cycling, whether you want to take up cycling or just watch. These races are exceptional events and lots of fun.
For those wanting to take up the sport, why not start exploring your local surroundings with a mountain bike or gravel and adventure bike? Hydration is essential to cycling to maintain maximum performance, so why not opt for a cycling bottle to ensure you stay hydrated?
Comments are closed here.