Cobblestones, like mountainous terrain, are decisive elements in courses of cycling. Many classic cycle races in northwestern Europe contain cobbled sections. The two Monuments of this race type are the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix, with over 20 cobbled sectors.
The first semi-classic with cobbled sections is Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which traditionally opens the Belgian classics season, followed the next day by Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne. Starting late March, the Vlaamse Wielerweek (Flemish cycling week) kicks off the most important period for cobbled cycling classics. Before the Pro Tour changes, the most important Flemish races were held in one week. Now it kicks off with Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, the E3 Harelbeke on Friday and Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday. The stage-race Driedaagse van De Panne keeps the riders busy during the following week, concluding with the Monumental Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday. The Grote Scheldeprijs on the following Wednesday prepares the riders for the historical Paris–Roubaix (another Monument), which ends the cobbled classics.
Among the cobbled cycling races the three most historical are usually held on consecutive Sundays in the early spring: Gent–Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix. Gent-Wevelgem has lost a lot of its historical status due to the relative easiness of the route. E3 Harelbeke is considered to be harder and thus better preparation for the Ronde and Roubaix. In 2012, both races received equal status on the UCI Pro Tour.
In 2012 Belgian rider Tom Boonen managed to win all 4 races in the same season, as the first and only rider to do so.
| Year | E3 Harelbeke (BEL) | Gent–Wevelgem (BEL) | Ronde van Vlaanderen (BEL) | Paris–Roubaix (FRA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | |
| 2012 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) |
| 2011 | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Nick Nuyens (BEL) | Johan Vansummeren (BEL) |
| 2010 | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | Bernhard Eisel (AUT) | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) |
| 2009 | Filippo Pozzato (ITA) | Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) | Stijn Devolder (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) |
| 2008 | Kurt Asle Arvesen (NOR) | Oscar Freire (ESP) | Stijn Devolder (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) |
| 2007 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Marcus Burghardt (GER) | Alessandro Ballan (ITA) | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) |
| 2006 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) |
| 2005 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Nico Mattan (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) |
| 2004 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Steffen Wesemann (GER) | Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) |
| 2003 | Steven de Jongh (NED) | Andreas Klier (GER) | Peter Van Petegem (BEL) | Peter Van Petegem (BEL) |
| 2002 | Dario Pieri (ITA) | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | Andrea Tafi (ITA) | Johan Museeuw (BEL) |
| 2001 | Andrei Tchmil (BEL) | George Hincapie (USA) | Gianluca Bortolami (ITA) | Servais Knaven (NED) |
| 2000 | Sergei Ivanov (RUS) | Geert Van Bondt (BEL) | Andrei Tchmil (BEL) | Johan Museeuw (BEL) |
| 1999 | Peter Van Petegem (BEL) | Tom Steels (BEL) | Peter Van Petegem (BEL) | Andrea Tafi (ITA) |
| 1998 | Johan Museeuw (BEL) | Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL) | Johan Museeuw (BEL) | Franco Ballerini (ITA) |
| 1997 | Hendrik Van Dijck (BEL) | Philippe Gaumont (FRA) | Rolf Sørensen (DEN) | Frédéric Guesdon (FRA) |
| 1996 | Carlo Bomans (BEL) | Tom Steels (BEL) | Michele Bartoli (ITA) | Johan Museeuw (BEL) |
| 1995 | Bart Leysen (BEL) | Lars Michaelsen (DEN) | Johan Museeuw (BEL) | Franco Ballerini (ITA) |
| 1994 | Andrei Tchmil (BEL) | Wilfried Peeters (BEL) | Gianni Bugno (ITA) | Andrei Tchmil (BEL) |
| 1993 | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | Johan Museeuw (BEL) | Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA) |
| 1992 | Johan Museeuw (BEL) | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | Jacky Durand (FRA) | Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA) |
| 1991 | Olaf Ludwig (GER) | Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB) | Edwig van Hooydonck (BEL) | Marc Madiot (FRA) |
| 1990 | Soren Lilholt (DNK) | Herman Frison (BEL) | Moreno Argentin (ITA) | Eddy Planckaert (BEL) |
Famous quotes containing the word classics:
“How to attain sufficient clarity of thought to meet the terrifying issues now facing us, before it is too late, is ... important. Of one thing I feel reasonably sure: we can’t stop to discuss whether the table has or hasn’t legs when the house is burning down over our heads. Nor do the classics per se seem to furnish the kind of education which fits people to cope with a fast-changing civilization.”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)