Pedal Dancer®: SPRING CLASSICS
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SPRING CLASSICS

Spring Classics, Fall Classics, Semi-Classics, One-Day Classics
 
2013 Classics Race Calendar
One-Day Classics 

Milano-Sanremo - 17 March 2013

 Spring Classics
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke - 22 March 2013
Gent-Wevelgem - 24 March 2013
Tour of Flanders - 31 March 2013
Paris-Roubaix -7 April 2013
Amstel Gold - 14 April 2013
La Fleche Wallonne - 17 April 2013
Liège–Bastogne–Liège - 21 April 2013

Fall Classics
Clasica Ciclista San Sabastian - 27 July 2013
UCI Worlds - 22-29 September 2013
Il Lombardia - 6 October 2013

 Belgian Semi-Classics (not on the UCI WorldTour):
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - 24 February 2013
Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne - 24 February 2013 canceled due to snow
Scheldeprijsf - 3 April 2013
De Brabantse Pijl - 10 April 2013

 Italian Semi-Classic (not on the UCI WorldTour)
Strade Bianche 2 March 2013

An explanation of the one-day races
La Primavera
  • Milan-San Remo (Italy) – La Classicissima, Milano-Sanremo opens the Classics season every year. It is called La Primavera (Italian for the spring), the race was first run in 1907.  It should be called "Il Longets" (The Longest) because it certainly is at 298 kilometers long.
 Cobbled classics (4)
  • Gent–Wevelgem (Belgium) - the first 'Spring Classic' in the season, began in 1934, the parcours include the famed Kemmelberg climb.
  • E3 Harelbeke (Belgium) - named after the road it is raced upon, was first held in 1958, pronounced “ay-dree press harold bek” (give it another try).
  • Ronde van Vlaanderen (Belgium) – Tour de Flandres, or Tour of Flanders in English, or Vlaanderens mooiste ("Flanders's most beautiful") started in 1913, this race is both hugely popular and prestigious in Belgium.
  • Paris–Roubaix (France) – called La Reine ("Queen of the Classics") or l'Enfer du Nord ("Hell of the North"), or La Pascale. The race is traditionally one week after the Ronde van Vlaanderen, first raced in 1896 on Easter Sunday. P-R is all about the pavé, which is indeed massive and rutted.
Ardennes classics (3)
  • Amstel Gold Race (The Netherlands) – the newest race of the Classics was first run in 1966.
  • La Flèche Wallonne (Belgium) – first run in 1936, Walloon Arrow is traditionally held in the wooded Ardennes region, mid-week between the Amstel Gold and the "Monument" Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
  • Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium) - the oldest one-day race on the calendar, begun in 1892. Another newspaper race.
Spring Classics (4+3 =7)
  • Spring Classics = Cobbled classics + Ardennes classics. The Spring Classics are traditionally held in late March or April in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. There are only 2 men that have won the "Triple" in the same year - Davide Rebellin in 2004 and Philippe Gilbert in 2011.
The Monuments (5)
The five "Monuments" are a different combination than the seven "Spring Classics", the Monuments add the beautiful terrain of Italy. Only three riders, all Belgians, have won all five races in their career - Roger De Vlaeminck, Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx; none in the same year. The Monuments are grouped as:
  • Milan-San Remo (Italy)
  • Tour of Flanders (Belgium) (Ronde van Vlaanderen)
  • Paris–Roubaix (France)
  • Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium)
  • Il Lombardia (Italy) – the only race considered a Monument, but not a Classic, the race is held in October. Known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves" and initially called the Milano–Milano (1905). The race was renamed to Giro di Lombardia in 1907, and then Il Lombardia in 2012.
Nicknames for the Classics
Paris-Roubaix = Queen of the Classics (La Reine), The Hell of the North, La Pascale
Amstel Gold = [no nickname] 
La Fleche-Wallonne = The Walloon Arrow
Liege-Bastogne-Liege = La Doyenne (the oldest/old lady)
Milan-San Remo = La Primavera (the spring), Sprinters' Classic, La Classicissima
Ronde van Vlaanderen = Flanders' most beautiful
others:
Paris-Nice = Race to the Sun
Tirreno-Adriatico = Race of the two Seas 
Il Lombardia = Race of the Falling Leaves 
Topics and posts from Pedal Dancer

2012
Race Dates:
Races:
       Tour of Flanders:
       Paris-Roubaix:
       Milan-San Remo:
Citizens Race:
Word of the Day:
Climbs:
Race & Ride reports / Being a fan in Belgium and France:

2011

Education:

Riders:
Races:

      Tour of Flanders
      Liege-Bastgne-Liege
      Paris-Roubaix
      Gent-Wevelgem  
      Milan-San Remo 
Pictures of the Day
    Citizen Races:
    Word of the Day:
    Recommended Reading and Viewing: 
    Travel:
    2010
    Cycling in Belgium

    Recommended posts, articles, and videos by other authors and fans on riding and racing in Belgium:
      Race Reviews
      CS experts panel: Paris-Roubaix By Cycle Sport
      CS expert panel: Amstel Gold By Cycle Sport
      CS expert Panel: Liège-Bastogne-Liège By Cycle Sport
      CS experts panel: The Tour of Flanders By Cycle Sport
      2011 Gent – Wevelgem By Cycling Tips
      Guide to Spring Classics Road Bike Racing By Bicycling.com

      History
      Photos of the day: The King of Paris Nice By Flandria Cafe
      Paris-Roubaix | l’Enfer du Nord By CyclingTips
      Paris-Roubaix - A History   By Daily Peloton

      The Climbs/Bergs
      Flanders climbs - map locations, details, profiles By Catena Cycling
      Iconic Places: The Forest of Arenberg By Cycle Sport
      Iconic Places: The Mur de Huy By Cycle Sport
      Iconic Places: The Cauberg By Cycle Sport
      Iconic Places: The Muur van Geraardsbergen By Cycle Sport
      Iconic Places: The Kemmelberg By Cycle Sport
      Monumental Bergs: The Oude Kwaremont By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Nokereberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Valkenberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Molenberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Kattenberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Eikenberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Wolvenberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Taaienberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Paterberg By The ChainStay
      Monumental Bergs: The Koppenberg By The ChainStay
      A slice of Hell, Paris-Roubaix's Haveluy Cobbles By Twisted Spoke
      The 18 climbs of the Tour of Flanders By VeloNews.com

      Chasing the races
      Roubaix, Baixby!! By Tobe's Blog
      Flanders blog: The best race in the world By Cycle Sport
      Heaven and hell following the Paris-Roubaix By The Telegraph, 2010
      Flanders Week: The Viewing Guide By Pez Cycling

      Ride Reports from fans/cyclists/riders
      Riding with the King: Three Days of West Flanders By Ben King 
      Riding The PAVÉ: Ouch! By Pez Cycling
      Chasing Races - Part 1 (RVV) By Frites en Mayo
      Weekend in Hell – Day One By Mr. Patterson Goes to Languedoc
      Weekend in Hell – Day Two By Mr. Patterson Goes to Languedoc
      Weekend in Hell – Day Three By Mr. Patterson Goes to Languedoc 
      Top Rides: The Finale Of Milano-Sanremo By Pez Cycling
      PEZ Does Flanders: Pre-Riding Gent-Wevelgem By Pez Cycling
      A Closer Look: Gent-Wevelgem Pre-Ride By Pez Cycling 
      Top Rides: PEZ Vs The Mur de Huy By Pez Cycling
      Liege Look: The Hills Of The Ardennes By Pez Cycling
      Ardennes Classics: Riding The L-B-L Bergs By Pez Cycling

      Cyclosportif Reports
      Tour of Flanders Sportive 2012 Route  By Adrian Fitch’s random rambling
      Top Rides: FLANDERS Cyclosportif By Pez Cycling
      Cyclo-Sportive: Tour of Flanders Sportive By CyclingWeekly
      Review: Tour of Flanders Sportive By Cyclosport.org
      Cobbled Madness - Part 1 of 4 - The Flanders Cyclosportive By Cyclosport.org
      Gran Fondo Bucket List By Cycling Tips


      SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR BELGIUM BEERS
      Duvel
      La Chouffe
      Chimay Bleue  (tripel)
      Westmalle Trippel (8’ / blond / dubbel)
      Westvleteren
      Rochefort 10’ (8’)
      Tripple Karmeliet
      Hoegaarden
      Saxo
      Leffe

      Blegian Travel, Food, and Culture
      Fietsroute.org - bike paths in Belgium
      Flemish Pride By Peter Easton of Velo Classic Tours 
      Belgian Culture By Bike Belgium
      Travel: The Simple Pleasures of Eating By Pez Cycling

      Belgian Beer 
      Belgian Breweries on Google Maps
      Following a Trail of Beer in Belgium By the New York Times
      trappistbier.wordpress.com 
      Belgian Trappists and Abbey Beers  By MoreBeer.com
      Belgian Beer Primer - Decoding the world’s most acclaimed (and confusing) brews.
      A beginner's guide to Belgian beer  
      Beer Style Guide  
      beerparadise.be 
      ratebeer.com  
      Belgian Beers By Frites en Mayo

      Breweries you may visit in Belgium:
        Brouwerij Alvinne, De Proefloft & beershop Moen, BELGIUM
        Cantillon Brewery/MuseumBrussels, BELGIUM
        De Dolle BrouwersEsen, BELGIUM
        Brasserie FantômeSoy, BELGIUM
        St. SixtusabdijWestvleteren, BELGIUM


      Photographs
      Dwars Door Vlaanderen Photo Gallery By Kristof Ramon and CyclingTips
      Picture gallery: Koppenberg cross
      Kemmel ride
      Paris Roubaix pro race
      2011 Paris-Roubaix Photos - Recon By CyclingFans.com

       Equipment
      Flanders, and how to dress your bike By Sprinting for Signs
      Tech Gallery – BMC gets ready for Tour of Flanders (Ambrosio rims)
      Race tech: Wheel and tire choices at Paris-Roubaix 2011 By BikeRadar.
       
      Videos
      Thor try's out sectors of Paris Roubaix Pavé By Sprinting for Signs

      Other
      Contest 2012 - Tour of Flanders: win a spot on the Go4Cycling VIP minibus with Johan Museeuw

      Videos from Belgium or the Classics

      Video: The Classics on SBS (Cycling Central) 2013
       
      Climbing the Muur of Geraardsbergen - Tour of Flanders


      Koppenberg Climb, Tour of Flanders Sportive 2006


      Oude Kwaremont & Paterberg 


      Fabian Cancellara Drops Tom Boonen - 2010 Tour of Flanders 


      Paris-Roubaix 2011 Carrefour de l'arbre.


      THE BEST CYCLING VIDEO OF ALL TIME


      *Please email me (see bottom of blog) if you would like your post or link included on this resource page). Thank you. 

      2012 Race Schedule

      2012 Spring Classics Schedule
      2012 Race Dates and Routes

      2012 Cycling Classics dates: (*not a "Classic)
      *Milan-San Remo - 17 March 2012
      Gent-Wevelgem - 25 March 2012
      Tour of Flanders - 1 April 2012
      Paris-Roubaix - 8 April 2012
      Amstel Gold - 15 April 2012
      Fleche Wallonne - 18 April 2012
      Liege-Bastogne-Liege - 22 April 2012
      2012 Fall Classics
      San Sabastian - 14 August 2012
      UCI Worlds - 15-23 September 2012
      Giel di Lombardia - 29 October 2012

       2012 Belgian Semi-Classics dates:
      Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - 25 Febraury 2012
      Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne - 26 February 2012
      E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke - 23 March 2012
      Gent - Wevelgem - 25 March 2012
      Scheldeprijsf - 4 April 2012
      De Brabantse Pijl - 11 April 2012
      La Flèche Wallonne - 18 April 2012
      Fall Semi-Classics
      Parijs – Brusssel - 8 September 2012


      Watch the races in live online or in TV: For live online viewing options please check in with www.steephill.tv (for links to Sporza, Eurosport, and more) or cyclingfans.com. View the recorded TV viewing schedule at NBC Cycling TV Schedule. Also watch the videos on CyclingCentral. Read the race reported live on CyclingNews.com Races & Results
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