The term "classics" refers to cycling races that take place on the same day - usually at the same time every year and on the same route, or at least in the same region. Their names usually give a clue as to where this is. They are called classics mainly because they have been around for a very long time, some of them for well over 100 years.
The International Cycling Union UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) has declared the five most traditional and therefore most prestigious classics to be "monuments of cycling". These are Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy. The first four take place in spring between March and April, the Tour of Lombardy in autumn. The oldest of these five monuments is Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which has been held since 1892 and is given the honourable name "La Doyenne" (the oldest). There are also classics that do not count as monuments, but are nevertheless highly prestigious and fiercely contested - the most famous of these is the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands, also in April.
When does a race become a classic?
Incidentally, the term "classic" is not really clear-cut. The only thing that is certain is that it is a one-day race. When and under what conditions such a one-day race becomes a classic is not clearly defined. After ten events, a one-day race is certainly not yet ennobled as a classic, after 20 probably not yet, after 30 perhaps - provided that the route is full of character and difficult, victory in the race is coveted and hard-fought and the list of winners is prominent. Occasionally, the criterion cited is that the first edition of a classic should have taken place before the First World War. Unlike the monuments, there is no recognised institution that elevates a one-day race to the status of a classic. Recognition also comes from the popularity of the fans and the importance that the media attaches to the race.
The fascination of the classics
The fascination of the classics - classic one-day races - is fuelled by many aspects. On the one hand, there are the characteristics of the various routes, which can be ideally recognised by the monuments. Milan-San Remo takes the riders from northern Italy, which is often still grey at the end of March, to the Riviera, where it is usually spring already. At almost 300 kilometres, the race is the longest of the year, but is almost completely flat. Only on the Mediterranean coast does the route lead over a few hills such as Capo Mele, Capo Berta, Cipressa or the Poggio di San Remo. However, the climbs are so short and flat that the riders chase over them at extremely high speeds and there is often a sprint finish by a large group of riders on the Via Roma in San Remo.
The Tour of Flanders is characterised by many short but steep and often cobbled climbs (Hellingen) during the course of the race - and often also difficult weather conditions with cold, wind and rain. The most famous climbs are the Oude Kwaremont, the wall of Geraardsbergen, Koppenberg and Paterberg. This makes the "Ronde van Vlaanderen" a kind of elimination race in which only the best riders on the day compete for victory and finish as soloists or in very small groups.
What makes Paris-Roubaix special
Paris-Roubaix, on the other hand, is flat as a plate and draws its fascination from the 50 or so cobblestone passages that have to be mastered over the course of around 250 kilometres. The term "cobblestones" is to be taken literally: The cobblestones ("pavé" in French) of the cart tracks from the last century are as big as children's heads - and there are gaps between them in which even modern wide racing bike tyres can easily disappear. Because they have been there for so long, they have made themselves comfortable in their bed; one corner has sunk, the next is raised, the third is broken - and so on.
What's more, during the winter, the wind constantly causes soil from the neighbouring fields to trickle down the paths. When the weather is fine, the pavé sections turn into dust tunnels and when it rains, they become muddy slides. The most famous and often race-deciding pavé sectors are the Forest of Arenberg and the Carrefour de l'Arbre. The finale of the race takes place on the iconic Roubaix cycling track. In the past, it was common for many races (including the Tour de France) to finish on a cycling track, but today Paris-Roubaix is the only road race of note that still maintains this anachronism.
Winners for classics
Another fascinating aspect of the classics is that the battle for victory is concentrated over one day, over several hours. In a multi-day stage race, the riders can make up for a bad day on the following stage(s) - in a classic, this is only possible again at the next event a year later. Riders who want to do well in the legendary one-day races therefore have to be in top form to the day; they have to be quick to react, tactically clever, willing to take risks, decisive - and often all in fractions of a second. Among the professional cyclists, there are those who are particularly good at dealing with these demands and are therefore regarded as classics specialists. In the generation of current professionals, these include Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
Detailed knowledge of the route is also important for success in a classic. It is therefore rare for a rider to win one of the major spring classics who is riding the race for the first time. You have to get into a promising position before the narrow climbing sections over the Hellingen as well as before the pavé sections - otherwise you run the risk of being left behind. It is also a good idea to know which way the wind is usually blowing on certain sections of the course - either to hide in the slipstream of the other racers and save energy or to attack and make it extra difficult for your opponents to follow.
Classics in Germany
Germany has a hard time organising cycling races that can claim internationally recognised classic status. This is most likely the case for the cycle race on 1 May in Frankfurt. Since its inception in 1962, it has been known as the "Rund um den Henninger Turm" and was nationally and internationally popular under this name until the 2000s. However, because the route, start and finish, mode of organisation and race classes changed repeatedly over the course of its history, it did not develop the consistency of other classic one-day races. The date of 1 May, which is not a public holiday in all countries and always falls on a different day of the week, also proved to be unfavourable. This made it difficult to find a secure place in the international calendar, which is primarily organised on weekends. The race now operates under the name Eschborn-Frankfurt.
The oldest one-day race still in existence in Germany is Rund um Köln, which was held for the first time in 1908. It is a renowned race, but did not achieve classic status beyond Germany's borders because it was organised as an amateur race for decades.
The most prestigious one-day race in Germany is the Cyclassics in Hamburg, which was founded in 1996 as the HEW Cyclassics - right in the middle of the cycling boom at the time, which Bjarne Riis, Jan Ullrich and Team Telekom triggered with their victories in the Tour de France in 1996 (Riis) and 1997 (Ullrich). The Cyclassics will be held for the 30th time in 2026. However, as the race is not particularly challenging in sporting terms and usually ends with a bunch sprint on Mönckebergstraße, it is unlikely to be elevated to the status of a true classic in the future.
Thomas Musch
Publisher
