Are the Classics cycling races really the best?

Are the Classics cycling races really the best of all? Well, we have all heard of ‘Le Tour de France’ with Lance Armstrong six time winner of this monumental 2,200 mile length race over a duration of three weeks.

The Tour de France is perhaps the most enduring race on Earth with one man, one bike and a hell of a lot of guts thrown at the Alps, Pyrenees and finally Paris in the final stage. Regardless of this, you have seen nothing until you have witnessed some of the Classics Races!

Have you heard of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen or Philippe Gilbert? Most likely not, but these really are people who can push their bodies to astounding lengths for success.

However, these riders do not normally aim to succeed in the Tour de France; they aim for success in the early season 'Classics’ races. The ‘Classics’ races are one day stage races dominating Western Europe from March through to April.

There are three main Classics races that road cycling fanatics salivate over at the start of the season: The Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

The Paris-Roubaix race, which has started in Compiegne since 1968 regardless of its historical start in Paris, is termed the ‘Cobbled Classic’ as a large section of the race is splattered with pave (cobbles). This surface is especially hard to cycle on, with every competitor using the characteristic thin tyres of a racing bike. However, slight adaptations give successful passage over the cobbles such as a lesser inflation of the tyres and adjusting hands whilst travelling across.

This race is a prestigious 'Classics' race, with dirt flying everywhere and everybody wanting to win the title of The Cobbled Champion. Over the past 5 years Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen have passed the title between themselves, with Stuart O’Grady getting in on the action in 2007 with a memorable win.

However, the way in which Fabian Cancellara dropped the rest of the field of competitors (known as the Peloton) so easily last year was simply a super-human effort. With a spring in his step he attacked with around 15-20km to go, even after having passed over pave for the whole of the day. He quickly opened up a gap of a few bike lengths and pushed until he broke away, which was the last time he was seen by the Peloton for the remainder of the race. It’s hard to see how anyone else could take this title from Cancellara in this coming year.

In addition to the Paris-Roubaix is The Amstel Gold cycling race. The Amstel Gold race, from Maastricht to Valkenburg, Netherlands, will celebrate its 46th race on April 17th 2011. 32 Climbs will be included this year, one more than previously, making this year extra tough! Of the 260km race duration, the Cauberg, with a distance of 1450m and a gradient of 12%, tests riders endurance. This climb will be done three times throughout this race; this puts into perspective just how tough this race really is.

So, who will win it? Damiano Cunego, Sergei Ivanov and Philipp Gilbert have been the three previous victors in stunning fashion. I would not be surprised if Gilbert took the win this year as he has had a brilliant pre-season, with a stage win in the Tour of Algarve, the Tirreno-Adriatico, taking first in the one day stage race of Montepaschi Strade Bianche and third in the prestigious Milan-San Remo.

Finally, the last of the three main Classics Races; Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Liege-Bastogne-Liege encompasses a 163km route from Liege to Bastogne and theb once more returning to finish in Liege after a gruelling battle out on the Belgian back roads. Competitors will be fighting for the rights to be crowned champion of this race with a lot of the top competitors hitting great form going into the next major Tour of Italy (Giro d’Italia).

In many ways Liege-Bastogne-Liege will signify the intent of each team battling it out for the overall win in the Giro d’Italia and wanting to stamp their authority early on. My guess is that whoever performs well (top 5 finish) in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege will ride superbly throughout the Giro.

My tip for the final of the Classics races is Joaquim Rodriguez of the Katusha Team. This rider has support in abundance with Sergei Ivanov, Alexander Kolobnev and Eduard Vorganov and I expect to see big things from this small, yet tough, rider. Men to be aware of in this race are Damiano Cunego, Andy Schleck, Robert Gesink and the legendary Alberto Contador.

Overall, the next few weeks of cycling will be absolutely thrilling. Tune in to at least one of these races and I promise you will see fireworks from the white flag to the finish line.

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