Minor Classics

Action on the Mur De Huy in 2007

Bubbling in stature just below the major classics or monuments of professional cycle racing, such as Paris Roubaix or the Tour of Flanders, are a number of races that draw the very best to take part.

These are Het Volk, Kuurne Brussels Kuurne, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, De Brabantse Pijl, Three Days of De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem and Flèche Wallonne. All of which have their own flavour, but which have in common a setting for great racing over the years.

Het Volk and Kuurne Brussels Kuurne apart, the; E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, De Brabantse Pijl, Three Days of De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem and Flèche Wallonne, all come in quick succession and run through the Major Spring Classic season.

Dwars door Vlaanderen - March 26

The first of the Spring Classics features once more a route that contains many of the climbs to be later ridden in the Tour of Flanders, including Oude Kwaremont.

The finish at Waregem won't come to early for many riders, and like the fans and press they will using this race to assess the likely contenders for victory in the Tour of Flanders, Paris Roubaix, Liege Bastogne Liege and the Amstel Gold.

The most challenging portion of the race is the 365 meter long climb up the Patersburg, with a max gradient of up to 20 percent. The last 30 kilometres of the day will be on two 15 km long laps around Waregem.

Previous winners
2007 Tom Boonen Belgium
2006 Frederik Veuchelen Belgium
2005 Niko Eeckhout Belgium
2004 Ludovic Capelle Belgium
2003 Robbie McEwen Australia
2002 Baden Cooke Australia
2001 Niko Eeckhout Belgium
2000 Tristan Hoffman Netherlands
1945 Rik Van Steenbergen Belgium (1st race)

Website - www.dwarsdoorvlaanderen.be/

E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - March 29

Based in the Flanders area of Belgium, the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen was first run in 1958 and was won in 2007 by Tom Boonen (Quickstep), his fourth victory in a row.

The 210 kilometre route straddling the E3 Motorway, takes in many of the famous climbs to be ridden in the Tour of Flanders; including the Oude Kwaremont (34k to go). In all 12 climbs test the riders with the Tiegemberg at14 kilometres to go, being the last before they close in Harelbeke

Previous winners
2007 Tom Boonen
2006 Tom Boonen
2005 Tom Boonen
2004 Tom Boonen
2003 Steven de Jongh
2002 Dario Pieri
2001 Andrei Tchmil
2000 Sergui Ivanov
1958 Armand Desmet (1st race)

Website - www.e3harelbeke.be/

De Brabantse Pijl - La Flèche Brabanconne - March 30

The 'Brabant Arrow' was first held in 1960 and was won by Marcel Francotte of Belgium. In 2007 Oscar Freire completed a hat trick of wins.

The race is held away from Flanders in the Brabant area, south of Brussels. Starting in Zaventem the 200k route closes on a finishing circuit and the finish is on the tough climb of the Alemsberg (Beersel) .The race also travels via the battle field of Waterloo.

Previous winners
2007 Oscar Freire
2006 Oscar Freire
2005 Oscar Freire
2004 Luca Paolini
2003 Michael Boogerd
2002 Fabien De Waele
2001 Michael Boogerd
2000 Johan Museeuw
1960 Marcel Francotte (1st race)

Website - www.belgiancycling.com

Three Days of De Panne - April 1/3

The Three Days of De Panne covers four stages over three days in Western Flanders. Stage one is relatively straight forward, but stage two brings with it the climb and descent of the scary Kemmelberg.

On the final day the action is split into two stages A and B. The first starts and finish at the sea side town of De Panne (Long sandy beaches) whilst in the afternoon they ride a time trial that takes in Koksijde, well known as the venue of the World Cup Cross race so popular with the British fans.

In 2007 Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) won and went onto claim the Tour of Flanders.

Stage 1: Middelkerke - Zottegem
Stage 2: Zottegem - Koksijde
Stage 3A: De Panne - De Panne
Stage 3B: Individual time trial - De Panne - Koksijde - De Panne

Previous winners
2007 Alessandro Ballan Italy
2006 Leif Hoste Belgium
2005 Stijn Devolder Belgium
2004 George Hincapie United States
2003 Raivis Belohvošciks Latvia
2002 Peter Van Petegem Belgium
2001 Nico Mattan Belgium
2000 Vjatcheslav Ekimov Russia
1977 Roger Rosiers Belgium (1st race)

Website - www.veloclub-depanne.be/

Gent-Wevelgem - April 9

Riders crash down the Kemmelberg in 2007 -fotoreporter sirotti

Gent-Wevelgem is is held on the Wednesday between the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix

Often seen as a 'sprinters' race because the major climbs are out of the way early on and before they hit the windswept roads of Flanders.

Nonetheless the climbs do include the Monteberg and the infamous Kemmelberg (climbed twice). The descent of the later, drew great comment in 2007 when a large number of riders were badly hurt in multiple crashes, and thus in 2008 the climb has been altered.

In 1974, the UK's Barry Hoban took victory and in 2007 Roger Hammond placed second behind his T-Mobile team mate Marcus Burghardt.

Previous winners
2007 Marcus Burghardt
2006 Thor Hushovd
2005 Nico Mattan
2004 Tom Boonen
2003 Andreas Klier
2002 Mario Cipollini
2001 George Hincapie
2000 Geert Van Bondt
1974 Barry Hoban (UK winner)
1934 Gustave Van Bell (1st race)

Website - www.gent-wevelgem.be/

La Flèche Wallonne - April 23

La Flèche Wallonne is held in the Ardenees after the Amstel Gold Race and before Liege Bastogne Liege.

The highlight of the race is the climb of the very steep Mur de Huy (The wall of Huy), which is undertaken a number of times. When we saw the race in 2007 a number of support cars were burning their clutches with one catching fire momentarily on the ascent.

The ride in from Charleroi offers no real problems for the riders and is probably just a device to get them to ride the Mur a number of times. The Mur de Huy is a great spot to watch cycle racing not only because you get to join the drunken locals and carnival atmosphere, but also the women's version circulates about 30 minutes apart.

Previous winners
2007 Davide Rebellin Italy
2006 Alejandro Valverde Spain
2005 Danilo Di Luca Italy
2004 Davide Rebellin Italy
2003 Igor Astarloa Spain
2002 Mario Aerts Belgium
2001 Rik Verbrugghe Belgium
2000 Francesco Casagrande Italy
1936 Philemon Demeersman Belgium (1st race)

Website - www.aso.fr/2005/cyclisme/us/jour02.html