In the early part of 2020 are the collection of races known as the spring classics. These races all have lots of character and tradition and for the most part take place in Belgium (with the odd exceptions in France, Italy and the Netherlands). A lot feature the brutal addition of cobblestones, some are on regular roads, one takes place on white gravel roads and all of them have some brutal hills involved.
I’ve previously made the trip to Belgium to see and report on a few races like Gent -Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders. I’ve also been able to experience some of the cobbled sections and climbs that make up the toughest sections of these races. Listed are all the other main races that make up the Spring Classics period.
If you want more of a flavour of the history of the Spring Classics, this ebook on Amazon is a great place to start.
Spring Classics 2020 Dates
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
29th February 2020
Last Winner: Zdeněk Štybar
Suits: Puncheurs and Powerful riders
Photos from 2018’s race.
Kuurne – Brussels – Kuurne
1st March 2020
Last Winner: Bob Jungels
Suits: Sprinters and Puncheurs
Strade Bianche
7th March 2020
Last Winner: Julian Alaphilippe
Suits: Powerful riders who like a bit of gravel and can sprint up a finishing climb
Bredene Koksijde Classic
20th March 2020
Last Winner: Pascal Ackermann
Suits: Sprinters
Milan – San Remo
21st March 2020
Last Winner: Julian Alaphilippe
Suits: Sprinters
Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne
25th March 2020
Last Winner: Dylan Groenewegen
Suits: Sprinters
E3 Harelbeke
27th March 2020
Last Winner: Zdeněk Štybar
Suits: Puncheurs
I rode the 2017 E3 Harelbeke sportive (Fabian Cancellara Classic)
Gent – Wevelgem
29th March 2020
Last Winner: Alexander Kristoff
Suits: Puncheurs and Powerful Sprinters
I rode the 2019 Gent – Wevelgem sportive, plus the 2018 and 2017 ones too.
Dwars Door Vlaanderen
1st April 2020
Last Winner: Mathieu van der Poel
Suits: Powerful Sprinters
Tour of Flanders
5th April 2020
Last Winner: Alberto Bettiol
Suits: Puncheurs and Powerful Riders
Photos from 2018’s race
Scheldeprijs
8th April 2020
Last Winner: Fabio Jakobsen
Suits: Sprinters
Paris – Roubaix
12th April 2020
Last Winner: Philippe Gilbert
Suits: Powerful Riders and Cobbles Specialists
I rode the 2018 Paris – Roubaix sportive, and in 2013 too. I also took photos at the 2018 race.
Brabantse Pijl
15th April 2020
Last Winner: Mathieu van der Poel
Suits: Powerful Sprinters
Amstel Gold Race
19th April 2020
Last Winner: Mathieu van der Poel
Suits: Puncheurs, Powerful Climbers
Photos from 2019’s race
La Fleche Wallonne
22nd April 2020
Last Winner: Julian Alaphilippe
Suits: Powerful Climbers
Photos from 2019’s race
Liege – Bastogne – Liege
26th April 2020
Last Winner: Jakob Fuglsang
Suits: Powerful Climbers
I rode the 2016 version of the sportive of LBL
