If you’re new to cycling, the Spring Classics can feel a bit overwhelming. Different races, unfamiliar names, cobblestones everywhere — where do you even start? This guide explains everything you need to know to follow the action this season.
What Are the Spring Classics?
The Spring Classics are a series of one-day professional cycling races held every year between late February and late April. Unlike stage races such as the Tour de France — which unfold over three weeks — each Classic is a single day of racing, usually between 200 and 300 kilometres, from start to finish. One day, one winner, no second chances.
They are the oldest and most prestigious races in cycling. Some have been running for over a hundred years. The roads are often narrow, the weather unpredictable, and the racing brutal. That’s exactly what makes them so compelling to watch.
The Most Important Races
Not all Classics are equal. Here are the ones worth clearing your calendar for:
Milan-San Remo is the first Monument of the season and the longest race on the calendar at around 290km. Held in mid-March, it runs from Milan down to the Italian Riviera and finishes in San Remo after the legendary Poggio climb. It often comes down to a sprint or a late attack — and the suspense in the final 10km is unlike anything else in sport.
The Tour of Flanders — known in Belgium simply as De Ronde — is held in late March or early April and is arguably the most beloved race in cycling. It winds through the hills of Flanders in Belgium, over narrow cobbled climbs called bergs, in front of hundreds of thousands of roadside fans. The Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg in the final 15km are where races are won and lost.
Paris-Roubaix is held two weeks after Flanders and is unlike any other race in the world. Riders cover up to 55km of brutal cobblestone farm roads called pavé, often in terrible weather. Punctures, crashes, and chaos are part of the race. The winner is covered in mud and exhausted — and celebrated like a hero. It is nicknamed The Hell of the North, and it earns that name every year.
Gent-Wevelgem, E3 Saxo Classic and Dwars door Vlaanderen are the important supporting races in the weeks before Flanders — think of them as the warm-up acts that reveal who is in form before the big day.
Where to Watch
Coverage varies depending on where you live:
In the Netherlands and Belgium, Sporza (Belgian public TV) and NOS cover the Classics extensively and often for free. If you’re in the Netherlands, NOS is your best free option.
Internationally, GCN+ (Global Cycling Network) has live coverage of almost every Classic with English commentary. It requires a subscription but is reasonably priced and worth it during the Classics season.
Eurosport and its streaming app Discovery+ also carry live coverage across most of Europe.
For highlights and free clips, the official race YouTube channels publish same-day highlight videos — search for “Flanders Classics” or “ASO cycling” on YouTube.
Who to Follow
If you’re new to the sport, a few names to watch this season:
Tadej Pogačar is the best rider in the world right now and already has Strade Bianche 2026 under his belt. He attacks aggressively and makes racing look effortless — even when it clearly isn’t.
Mathieu van der Poel is the king of the cobbled Classics and won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to open this season. He is at his best on the narrow, punishing roads that define this time of year.
Wout van Aert is the eternal nearly-man of San Remo — two second places and desperate for a win. He is capable of winning any Classic on any given day.
How to Follow Along Even If You Can’t Watch Live
If you can’t catch the races live, you don’t have to miss out. Follow the race hashtags on X (Twitter) — #MilanSanRemo, #RVV2026, #ParisRoubaix — for live updates as the race happens. The cycling community on X is passionate and posts constant updates throughout race day.
And of course, check back here after every race for a full recap of the action — written for fans who love cycling without taking it too seriously.