Classic race facts for kids
The classic cycle races are super important one-day professional bike races that happen every year. Think of them like the biggest single-day championships in cycling!
These exciting races all take place in western Europe. Many of them have been around for a very long time, some even since the 1800s! They usually happen at the same time each year. The five most famous ones are sometimes called the 'Monuments' because they are so special.
Since 2005, these Classic races have been part of the UCI ProTour. This is a big series of events run by the Union Cycliste Internationale, which is like the world governing body for cycling. The ProTour also includes longer races that last several days, like the famous Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España.
The Classic Races
These are some of the most well-known classic one-day bike races:
| Race | Country | Started | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan-Sanremo |  Italy |
1907 | This is the first big Classic race of the year, usually in late March. Its Italian name, La Primavera, means "the spring." |
| Ronde van Vlaanderen |  Belgium |
1913 | This is one of the first 'Spring Classics' and is usually raced in early April. |
| Paris-Roubaix |  France |
1896 | Known as La Reine ("Queen of the Classics") or l'Enfer du Nord ("Hell of the North") because it's so tough! It's usually one week after the Tour of Flanders. |
| Amstel Gold Race |  Netherlands |
1966 | This race is normally held in mid-April. |
| La Flèche Wallonne | Belgium |
1936 | Called the Walloon Arrow, this race usually happens in the middle of the week, between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. |
| Liège-Bastogne-Liège | Belgium |
1892 | This is La Doyenne, meaning "the oldest" Classic race. It started in 1892 for amateur riders, and professionals joined in 1894. It's usually in late April. |
| Rund um den Henninger Turm |  Germany |
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| Clásica de San Sebastián |  Spain |
Also known as the San Sebastian Classic. | |
| Züri-Metzgete |  Switzerland |
This was the Championship of Zürich. | |
| Paris-Brussels | France/ Belgium |
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| Paris-Tours | France |
||
| Giro di Lombardia | Italy |
1905 | This race is also known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves" because it's usually held in October. It was first called Milano-Milano (from Milan to Milan) in 1905, then became the Giro di Lombardia in 1907. |
Some races that used to be Classics are not run anymore. One example is the incredibly difficult 560km Derny event, Bordeaux-Paris, which ran from 1891 to 1988.
The 'Monuments'
Five of the classic races are extra special and are often called "the Monuments." These are the most prestigious one-day races in cycling:
- Milan-Sanremo Italy
- Ronde van Vlaanderen Belgium
- Paris-Roubaix France
- Liège-Bastogne-Liège Belgium
- Giro di Lombardia Italy
Only three amazing cyclists have won all five of these 'Monument' races during their careers: Roger De Vlaeminck, Rik Van Looy, and Eddy Merckx. All of these legendary riders were from Belgium.
Seán Kelly from Ireland won four of the Monuments. He came very close to winning all five, finishing second in the Tour of Flanders three times (in 1984, 1986, and 1987).
Monument Winners Since 1960
This table shows the winners of the 'Monument' races each year since 1960.
| 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.