The Ardennes classics are three cycling classics held in mid-April in the Ardennes (Belgium) and Dutch Limburg. The races are notable for their hilly courses, and often have similar riders competing for the top positions as the races are held close after each other. In recent years, the three classics are held within a 8-day timeframe.
The only winners of the "triple" are Davide Rebellin in 2004 and Philippe Gilbert in 2011. Other riders to win all three races, though not in a single year, are Danilo Di Luca, Michele Bartoli, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
There is no official competition connecting the three races, although there have been classifications in the past for the two Walloon races.
In recent years, these three hill classics are held in the second half of April, following a similar set of three Cobbled classics.
| Year | Amstel Gold Race | La Flèche Wallonne | Liège–Bastogne–Liège |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ) |
| 2011 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) |
| 2010 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Cadel Evans (AUS) | Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) |
| 2009 | Serguei Ivanov (RUS) | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Andy Schleck (LUX) |
| 2008 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Kim Kirchen (LUX) | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 2007 | Stefan Schumacher (GER) | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) |
| 2006 | Fränk Schleck (LUX) | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 2005 | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) |
| 2004 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Davide Rebellin (ITA) |
| 2003 | Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) | Igor Astarloa (ESP) | Tyler Hamilton (USA) |
| 2002 | Michele Bartoli (ITA) | Mario Aerts (BEL) | Paolo Bettini (ITA) |
| 2001 | Erik Dekker (NED) | Rik Verbrugghe (BEL) | Oscar Camenzind (SUI) |
| 2000 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Francesco Casagrande (ITA) | Paolo Bettini (ITA) |
| 1999 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Michele Bartoli (ITA) | Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL) |
| 1998 | Rolf Järmann (SUI) | Bo Hamburger (DEN) | Michele Bartoli (ITA) |
| 1997 | Bjarne Riis (DEN) | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | Michele Bartoli (ITA) |
| 1996 | Stefano Zanini (ITA) | Lance Armstrong (USA) | Pascal Richard (SUI) |
| 1995 | Mauro Gianetti (SUI) | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | Mauro Gianetti (SUI) |
| 1994 | Johan Museeuw (BEL) | Moreno Argentin (ITA) | Evgeni Berzin (RUS) |
| 1993 | Rolf Järmann (SUI) | Maurizio Fondriest (ITA) | Rolf Sørensen (DEN) |
| 1992 | Olaf Ludwig (GER) | Giorgio Furlan (ITA) | Dirk de Wolf (BEL) |
| 1991 | Frans Maassen (NED) | Moreno Argentin (ITA) | Moreno Argentin (ITA) |
| 1990 | Adri van der Poel (NED) | Moreno Argentin (ITA) | Eric van Lancker (BEL) |
Later in the year, there are two similar 'trebles' in Italy: the Trittico Lombardo with the Tre Valli Varesine, Coppa Ugo Agostoni and Coppa Bernocchi in the Lombardy Region, and the Trittico di Autunno (Autumn Triptych) with Milano–Torino, Giro del Piemonte and Giro di Lombardia.
Famous quotes containing the word classics:
“Every man with a bellyful of the classics is an enemy to the human race.”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)