The Spring Classics are a big deal on the Professional Calendar. The way I look at it, the Spring Classics are basically split into three very separate and distinct parts: The Semi-Classics, the Cobbled Classics, and the Ardenne Classics. (Note that this is simplistic and slightly inaccurate but I won’t get into the disjointed nature of race organisers and how they brand their events. Also, some are on the World Tour Calendar and others are on the European calendar. Confusing…I know.)
I’ve included Milan-San Remo in this gallery but it’s a race that stands out by itself. It’s the first of the Spring Classics and is one of the Five Monuments, but despite its timing it’s not considered to be a “Semi-Classic” (even though I’ve grouped it here for simplicity sake).
Milano-San Remo (World Tour)
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (World Tour)
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (Europe Tour)
Dwars Door Vlaanderen (Europe Tour)
E3 Prijs Harelbeke (Europe Tour)
Gent – Wevelgem (World Tour)
3 Days De Panne (Europe Tour)
It’s interesting to see in hindsight who was going well during these beginning races, who got injured, and who ended up rising to the top. Here’s a look back at these first significant races of the 2012 cycling season (recaps of the Cobbled and Ardenne Classics coming sortly)…
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- Fabian Cancellara at the start of Milan-San Remo unknowinlgy on his way to a disastrous Spring Classics
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- Race favorite Mark Cavendish gets dropped up Le Manie, only the second categorised climb at Milan-San Remo
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- Simon Gerrans outsprints Fabian Cancellara to win his first Classic
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- Milan-San Remo winner Simon Gerrans happily makes his way to the podium
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- The sounds of Belgian bike racing “Rodania!”
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- The leading trio at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Flecha, Boonen and Vanmarke
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- The 23 year old Belgian, Sep Vanmarcke, outsprints Boonen and Flecha at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
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- The Team Sky boys band: Cool as Cats
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- Team SKY leading out Cavendish with 16km to go at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
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- Mark Cavendish has been quiet this season but he did pick up a win at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. His other wins in this season before becoming a father are stage 3 and 5 at Tour of Qatar and a stage at Tirreno.
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- Cavendish at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne winner’s press conference
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- Niki Terpstra on his way to the win at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
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- Niki Terpstra was the strongest at Dwars door Vlaanderen and was instrumental in helping Boonen at Paris Roubaix.
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- Baden Cooke on the Taaienberg at E3 Prijs Harelbeke. ‘Taaienberg’ could be translated from Flemish into ‘Tough’-berg
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- Tom Boonen attacking extremely strong on ‘his’ Taaienberg at E3 Prijs Harelbeke
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- A strong Kevin Hulsmans on De Muur at E3 Prijs Harelbeke. Unfortunately the Muur was taken out of the Tour of Flanders this year which gave many people the feeling that the was missing something in the race. We certainly missed the iconic images.
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- Sprinting for the win at E3 Prijs Harelbeke: Tom Boonen keeps off a charging Oscar Freire
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- Crash in the sprinting peloton of the 74th Gent-Wevelgem which Tom Boonen won. After this Bonnen went on to win the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix
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- Frederik Willems warming up for the ITT at the 3 Days of De Panne
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- Luke Durbridge time trailing his way to 8th at the 3 Days of De Panne and getting 7th overall. This was his first bike race as a professional in Europe. Sylvain Chavanel took out the TT win and the overall victory
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- Flemish lions on their way to the finish line of Gent-Wevelgem
