![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20240407PRX1080-1600x1066.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEuropean winter, be gone. The Spring Classics are nearly here, the time of year when legends are made, and egos are often broken. It\u2019s cold. It\u2019s wet. It\u2019s dramatic. It\u2019s noisy. It\u2019s fantastic\u2014especially from the warm and dry comfort of our Australian lounge rooms.<\/p>\n
Pro cycling\u2019s one-day season officially kicks off with Opening Weekend on February 28 and March 1 and draws to a close eight weeks later with Liege-Bastogne-Liege on 26 April, less than two weeks from the start of the 2026 Giro d\u2019Italia in Bulgaria. In between is the annual cavalcade of brutal one-day races held across Belgium, Italy, northern France and the Netherlands. With nowhere to hide, it\u2019s the time of year when only the toughest and boldest riders survive.<\/p>\n
Cycling\u2019s biggest names like Van der Poel, Poga\u010dar, Kopecky, Pieterse, Vollering, Weibes, Pidcock, Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot, Evenepoel, Reusser and Van Aert can again be expected to secure many of the Spring spoils. Others to watch include a resurgent Biniam Girmay and emerging stars like British Matthew Brennan, France\u2019s Paul Magnier, Portugal\u2019s Antonio Morgado and potentially Mexican champion Isaac De Toro if and when Poga\u010dar chooses to stay at home. 2026 also shapes up as a career-defining Spring for 23-year-old Arnaud De Lie, who, for several seasons, has seemed destined to assume the mantle as Belgium\u2019s next great Classics rider\u2014without quite delivering on the biggest stages as yet. There are sure to be other contenders, too. But who? And when?<\/p>\n
Opening Weekend<\/p>\n
The pro racing calendar has started in January for years now. But tradition still celebrates \u2018Opening Weekend\u2019 as the official beginning of the European racing season. As always, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is first up, followed a day later by Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.<\/p>\n
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Saturday 28 February, Belgium (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
A lumpy cobbled classic named after a Flemish newspaper, this has been the traditional season opener since 1945. Frequently, the Flanders weather is just as testing as the parcours, making it a race for hardened all-rounders. The women\u2019s race was first held in 2006, and Australia\u2019s Tiffany Cromwell won in 2013.<\/p>\n
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Sunday 1 March, Belgium (Men\u2019s)<\/p>\n
Held the day after the Omloop, this is more of a sprinter\u2019s classic. Australia\u2019s Chris Sutton won back in 2011 for Team Sky, while Jasper Philipsen is the reigning champion from 2025.<\/p>\n
The Monuments<\/p>\n
If Opening Weekend is the season\u2019s entree, these iconic one-day races are the main course. Four of cycling\u2019s five storied \u2018Monuments\u2019 happen in the European spring and typically attract the cream of pro cycling\u2019s crop. The stakes are high for teams, riders and sponsors alike with a win\u2014or even a podium\u2014often more than enough for most riders to declare they\u2019ve had a successful season.<\/p>\n
Milan-San Remo, Saturday 21 March 2025, Italy (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
With a race distance of almost 300 kilometres, Milan-San Remo is the longest single-day classic in pro cycling and the first Monument of the season. First held in 1907, \u2018La Primavera\u2019 takes riders south from the fringes of Milan to the Mediterranean coastline before a frequently dramatic finale in San Remo. Given its epic length and relatively kind topography, the opening hours of the race tend to be uneventful. However, the race typically explodes to life in the final 50 kilometres, thanks to the punchy climbs of the Cipressa and Poggio, followed by a fast, technical descent into the finish. Australians have performed well here, with Matt Goss winning in 2011 and Simon Gerrans in 2012. Caleb Ewan finished second twice, while Michael Matthews has finished in the top five on five occasions, including second in 2024. This is one of the few major races Tadej Poga\u010dar is yet to win\u2014and he wants it, badly.<\/p>\n
Tour of Flanders, 5 April, Belgium (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
Arguably the biggest day of the year in Belgium, the \u2018Ronde van Vlaanderen\u2019 is the first of the season\u2019s cobbled Monuments and dates back to 1913. Famed for its huge crowds, brutal cobbled bergs and unrelenting Flanders weather, this is a day for the hardest of riders. No Australian rider has won here\u2014in fact, no Aussie has even made the podium, male or female\u2014and it would be a massive surprise if that were to change in 2026.<\/p>\n
Paris-Roubaix, Sunday 12 April, northern France (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
The most iconic one-day classic of them all. First held in 1896, the Hell of the North begins in Compi\u00e8gne to the north of Paris and covers a largely flat and winding passage to the finish on the historic open-air velodrome at Roubaix. The complication, of course, comes from the ancient and unrelenting cobbles, which typically begin after around 100 kilometres of racing. While the exact number of sectors varies from year to year, the cobbles usually account for 50-60 kilometres of the race and present one of the most brutal challenges in all of pro cycling, wet or dry, where luck can be almost as important as skill. In 2007, Stuart O\u2019Grady tamed the pav\u00e9 to claim Australia\u2019s first-ever victory in Roubaix, while Matt Hayman completed a remarkable injury comeback to complete a massive upset in 2016. The first Paris-Roubaix Femmes took place in 2021.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Sunday 26 April, Belgium (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
\u2018La Doyenne\u2019 is one of the world\u2019s oldest bike races and was first held way back in 1892. The race takes place in the hilly Ardennes region of southern Belgium and is always based on a loop between the two iconic cities. Riders face a series of steep climbs along the way\u2014the most famous being the C\u00f4te de la Redoute (1.6km, 10% av. gradient)\u2014making this a race for all-rounders with good climbing legs and often the target of cycling\u2019s top GC riders. Simon Gerrans took Australia\u2019s first victory in 2014 when he out-sprinted Alexandro Valverde, while 2024 saw Grace Brown claim an iconic win here in her final pro season.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250427LBL0083-1600x1067.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Big Classics<\/p>\n
Strade Bianchi, Saturday 7 March, Tuscany, Italy (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to believe Strade Bianchi is still less than two decades old. Held over a winding mix of white gravel and paved country roads, and inspired by the success of the L\u2019Eroica Strade Bianchi retro sportive, it reaches an almost divine finale in the historic town centre of beautiful Sienna and is a photographer\u2019s dream. First held in 2007, the race has quickly become one of the most spectacular and dramatic days on the European classics calendar, with many calling for its elevation as a sixth Monument. The Strade Bianchi Donne was first held in 2015.<\/p>\n
Gent-Wevelgem, 29 March, Belgium (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
Traditionally coming one week before the Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem attracts the world\u2019s toughest one-day riders looking for a final tune-up ahead of the Ronde and, for many, Paris-Roubaix a week later. It\u2019s known as a classic for the sprinters despite taking in a double dose of the famous Kemmelberg (1.2km, 6.8% av, the highest point in West Flanders). In another curiosity, the race hasn\u2019t actually started in Gent since 2002 and 2026 will see the riders roll out from the coastal town of Middelkerke. The women\u2019s race has also been held on the same day since 2012. No Australian has won here, male or female.<\/p>\n
Amstel Gold Race, 19 April, Netherlands (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
It may not be an official Monument, but the Amstel Gold Race\u2014yes, it\u2019s named after the beer\u2014is still one of the most prestigious Spring classics. Unlike much of the Netherlands, which is flat, Amstel takes place around the narrow, hilly lanes of Limburg. Punctuated with short, sharp climbs, the constantly twisting route makes for hard and unpredictable racing where rider smarts, and a bit of luck, can be just as important as good legs. Australians have done well here over the years, headlined by Phil Anderson\u2019s historic solo victory back in 1984\u2014the first major classics win by any Australian rider. Michael Matthews has finished in the top 10 on multiple occasions, and Simon Clarke came second in a stunning finale to the 2019 race behind Dutch hero Mathieu Van der Poel.<\/p>\n
La Fl\u00e8che Wallonne, 22 April, Belgian Ardennes (Men\u2019s & Women\u2019s)<\/p>\n
Typically held mid-week ahead of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the \u2018Walloon Arrow\u2019 is the first of the two major Ardennes classics. Held since 1936, it features one of professional cycling\u2019s most iconic hilltop finishes on the feared Mur de Huy with maximum gradients of close to 20%. Cadel Evans won here in 2010, while Anna Millward (2001) and Oenone Wood (2005) have both finished second in the women\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
Aussies to watch<\/p>\n
While Belgians, Italians and Dutch riders carry most of the expectations during the European Spring\u2014along with a skinny Slovenian bloke in more recent times\u2014Aussies have a proud record of surprising with strong results across many of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s races. In the men\u2019s Classics, a hardened veteran like Luke Durbridge can never be underestimated if the moons align (just ask Matt Hayman). Power riders like Kaden Groves and Sam Welsford could also pop up at some stage of the Spring. While some races, like Milan-San Remo and Amstel, expect Michael Matthews to once again be in the mix. Shifting to the Ardennes Classics, riders like Jai Hindley, Michael Storer and Ben O\u2019Connor are certainly not without hope, however their race schedules may see them absent as GC ambitions take priority. In the women\u2019s peloton, the 2025 retirement of Grace Brown has left a major Classics hole in Australia\u2019s firepower; however, riders like Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Neve Bradbury, Felicity Wilson-Haffenden, and Sarah Gigante (particularly in the hillier races like Liege-Bastogne-Liege) all have the ability to feature at the sharp end of proceedings. Meanwhile, if 38-year-old Amanda Spratt can rise to the top for a swan song victory in her final WorldTour season, there won\u2019t be a dry eye in the house.<\/p>\n
Australia Spring Monuments Honour Roll<\/p>\n
Milan-San Remo<\/p>\n
Matthew Goss (2011)<\/p>\n
Simon Gerrans (2012)<\/p>\n
Tour of Flanders<\/p>\n
No winners<\/p>\n
Paris-Roubaix<\/p>\n
Stuart O\u2019Grady (2007)<\/p>\n
Matthew Hayman (2016)<\/p>\n
Leige-Bastogne-Liege<\/p>\n
Simon Gerrans (2014)<\/p>\n
Grace Brown (2024)<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20240406PRXF0076-1600x1067.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Spring Classics Schedule 2026<\/p>\n
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Men & Women)28 February 2026BelgiumKuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2026 (Men)1 March 2026BelgiumStrade Bianche (Men & Women)7 March 2026ItalyMilano-Torino (Men)18 March 2026ItalyMilan-San Remo (Men & Women)21 March 2026ItalyE3 Saxo Classic (Men)27 March 2026BelgiumGent-Wevelgem (Men & Women)29 March 2026BelgiumDwars door Vlaanderen (Men & Women)1 April 2026BelgiumTour of Flanders (Men & Women)5 April 2026BelgiumScheldeprijs (Men & Women)8 April 2026Netherlands\/BelgiumParis-Roubaix (Men & Women)12 April 2026FranceBrabantse Pijl (Men & Women)17 April 2026BelgiumAmstel Gold Race (Men & Women)19 April 2026NetherlandsLa Fl\u00e8che Wallonne (Men & Women)22 April 2026BelgiumLi\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge (Men & Women)26 April 2026Belgium<\/p>\n
Image credits: ASO<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Peter-Maniaty-1-2-300x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Peter Maniaty<\/p>\n
Peter Maniaty – Peter is Bicycling Australia\u2019s senior journalist, and highly respected in the world of cycling. From bike reviews, to destination features and nitty gritty opinion pieces, he\u2019s a gun writer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"European winter, be gone. The Spring Classics are nearly here, the time of year when legends are made,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":499906,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,85],"class_list":["post-499905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=499905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499905\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/499906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=499905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=499905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=499905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}