In the early part of 2017 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 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 shall be making the trip to Belgium to see E3 Harelbeke and take part in the sportive for it too, so that race is marked in my calendar. Listed are all the other main races that make up the Spring classics period.
Spring Classics 2017 Dates
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
25th February
Last Winner: Greg van Avermaet
Suits: Puncheurs and Power riders
1 – Boonen 2 – Sagan 3 – Van Avermaet
Kuurne – Brussels – Kuurne
26th February
Last Winner: Jasper Stuyven
Suits: Sprinters and Puncheurs
1 – Kristoff 2 – Bouhanni 3 – Sagan
Strade Bianche
4th March
Last Winner: Fabian Cancellara
Suits: Power riders
Milan – San Remo
18th March
Last Winner: Arnaud Demare
Suits: Sprinters
Dwars Door Vlaanderen
22nd March
Last Winner: Jens Debusschere
Suits: Powerful Sprinters
E3 Harelbeke
24th March
Last Winner: Michal Kwiatkowski
Suits: Puncheurs
Gent – Wevelgem
26th March
Last Winner: Peter Sagan
Suits: Puncheurs and Powerful Sprinters
Tour of Flanders
2nd April
Last Winner: Peter Sagan
Suits: Puncheurs and Power Riders
Scheldeprijs
5th April
Last Winner: Marcel Kittel
Suits: Sprinters
Paris – Roubaix
9th April
Last Winner: Mathew Hayman
Suits: Power Riders
I rode the 2013 sportive of Paris – Roubaix
Brabantse Pijl
12th April
Last Winner: Peter Vakoc
Suits: Powerful Sprinters
Amstel Gold Race
16th April
Last Winner: Enrico Gasparotto
Suits: Puncheurs, Powerful Climbers
La Fleche Wallonne
19th April
Last Winner: Alejandro Valverde
Suits: Powerful Climbers
Photos from 2016’s race
Liege – Bastogne – Liege
23rd April
Last Winner: Wout Poels
Suits: Powerful Climbers
I rode the 2016 version of the sportive of LBL
