Thecobbled classics are fourcycling classics held in March and April.Cobblestones, like mountainous terrain, are important elements in courses ofcycling. Manyclassic cycle races in northwestern Europe contain cobbled sections. The twoMonuments of this race type are theTour of Flanders andParis–Roubaix, with over 20 cobbled sectors.[1]
The first race with cobbled sections isOmloop Het Nieuwsblad, which traditionally opens the Belgian classics season, followed the next day byKuurne–Brussels–Kuurne. Starting in late March, theFlemish Cycling Week (Vlaamse Wielerweek) kicks off the most important period for cobbled cycling classics. Currently it features theDriedaagse van De Panne on Wednesday (formerly a stage race, now a one-day event), theE3 Harelbeke on Friday, andGent–Wevelgem on Sunday. The following week,Dwars door Vlaanderen keeps the riders busy, concluding with the MonumentTour of Flanders on Sunday. TheScheldeprijs on the following Wednesday prepare the riders for the historicalParis–Roubaix (another Monument), which ends the cobbled classics.
Among the cobbled cycling races, the three most historical are usually held on consecutive Sundays in March and April:Gent–Wevelgem,Tour of Flanders andParis–Roubaix. Gent–Wevelgem has lost a lot of its historical status due to the relatively ease of the route. TheE3 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 World Tour. In 2017,Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (the opening event of the Belgian cycling season, as well as the first race of the year in Northwestern Europe) andDwars door Vlaanderen became World Tour races.
In 2012, Belgian riderTom Boonen managed to win all four races in the same season, as the first and only rider to do so.[2]
In the 2010s, some of the races have been joined by equivalent races for women –Gent–Wevelgem for Women,Tour of Flanders for Women andParis–Roubaix Femmes.
| Rank | Name | Total wins | E3 Harelbeke | Gent–Wevelgem | Tour of Flanders | Paris–Roubaix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Boonen | 15 | 5 (2004,2005,2006,2007,2012) | 3 (2004,2011,2012) | 3 (2005,2006,2012) | 4 (2005,2008,2009,2012) |
| 2 | Rik Van Looy | 12 | 4 (1964,1965,1966,1969) | 3 (1956,1957,1962) | 2 (1959,1962) | 3 (1961,1962,1965) |
| 3 | Fabian Cancellara | 9 | 3 (2010,2011,2013) | 0 | 3 (2010,2013,2014) | 3 (2006,2010,2013) |
| 4 | Eddy Merckx | 8 | 0 | 3 (1967, (1970, (1973) | 2 (1969,1975) | 3 (1968,1970,1973) |
| Johan Museeuw | 8 | 2 (1992,1998) | 0 | 3 (1993,1995,1998) | 3 (1996,2000,2002) |
| Rank | Name | Total wins | Gent–Wevelgem | Tour of Flanders | Paris–Roubaix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lizzie Deignan | 3 | 1 (2012) | 1 (2016) | 1 (2021) |
| Elisa Longo Borghini | 3 | 0 | 2 (2015,2024) | 1 (2022) | |
| Lotte Kopecky | 3 | 0 | 2 (2022,2023) | 1 (2024) |
