Men's Cycling

Compared to all of the other races in this series, Strade Bianche is the new kid. It started life as an amateur Gran Fondo in 1997 with the first pro edition in 2007. The following year it moved from October to March and quickly gained a cult following.

Moreno Argentin turned pro in the 1981 season and immediately won 2 stages of that year's Giro d'Italia. He kept up a streak of winning stages in the Giro until 1985, when he won his first monument instead. Argentin won Liège Bastogne Liège 3 times in a row from 1985 to 1987.

The Tour of Flanders changes its route regularly, but the Flemish Ardennes climbs remain the race's defining feature. In 2026 the men's race again...

Gent Wevelgem was first run in 1934 and is yet another race started by a newspaper. The race originally visited the Flemish Ardennes to create a hilly race but since the 1980s has become more of a sprinter's classic.

Boonen's first year as a professional was at US Postal. He finished 3rd at Paris Roubaix as well to announce himself. He broke his contract to sign with Quickstep for 2003 and stayed there all his career. In 2004 he won 3 Classics and 2 Tour de France stages.

The first E3 BinckBank Classic was first run in 1958 and would head from Harelbeke to Antwerp and back. From the early 1960s it was called the E3-Prijs Vlaanderen. Originally named after a local motorway, the road has since been renamed the E17 but the race has name has stuck.

Fabian Cancellara started his pro career at Mapei and carved out a niche as a time triallist to begin with. A couple of early victories in smaller races highlighted his promise.

The first Kuurne Brussels Kuurne was in 1946 and until the late 60s, followed a route to Brussels. It was known as Omloop der beide Vlaanderen in the 1970s to reflect the new route to the Flemish Ardennes. In 1979 it reverted back to its original name.