🚴 One-Day Races in Cycling

What are One-Day Races?

One-day races are road races held on a single day and require a completely different strategic approach than multi-day stage races. Unlike Grand Tours or stage races, there is no second chance - a bad day or tactical error cannot be compensated for the next day.

This "all-or-nothing" characteristic makes one-day races the most spectacular and unpredictable competitions in professional cycling. Distances vary between 150 and 300 kilometers, with races placing different demands on riders depending on the route profile.

The Five Monument Classics

The most prestigious one-day races are called "Monument Classics" or "Monuments of Cycling". A victory in one of these five races is considered a career highlight and is more important to many professionals than a stage win in a Grand Tour.

1. Milan-Sanremo (La Primavera)

Date: Third Saturday in March
Distance: approx. 300 km
Country: Italy
Nickname: "La Classicissima" or "The Spring"

Milan-Sanremo is the longest one-day race and traditionally opens the classics season. The route leads from Milan along the Ligurian coast to Sanremo and is mostly flat before the decisive climbs arrive.

Characteristic Key Points:

• Passo del Turchino (532m) - Formerly decisive pass, less significant today
• Cipressa (5.6 km at 4.1% gradient) - Penultimate climb, 20 km before the finish
• Poggio di Sanremo (3.7 km at 3.7%) - Last climb, only 6 km before the finish
• Via Roma - The famous finish straight in Sanremo

2. Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen)

Date: First Sunday in April
Distance: approx. 270 km
Country: Belgium
Nickname: "De Ronde"

The Tour of Flanders is a Flemish national shrine and attracts over one million spectators to the route annually. The combination of short, steep climbs ("Hellingen") and cobblestone sectors ("Kasseien") makes this race a brutal test of strength.

Iconic Climbs:

• Oude Kwaremont (2.2 km at 4%) - Cobblestone, ridden twice
• Paterberg (360m at 12.9%) - Steepest climb, only 13 km before the finish
• Koppenberg (600m at 11.6%) - Optional, extremely steep with 22% maximum gradient
• Muur van Geraardsbergen - Legendary climb (part of the route until 2011)

Famous Cobblestone Sectors:

Haaghoek, Lippenhovestraat, Taaienberg, Kruisberg

3. Paris-Roubaix (The Hell of the North)

Date: Second Sunday in April
Distance: approx. 260 km
Country: France
Nickname: "L'Enfer du Nord" (The Hell of the North)

Paris-Roubaix is considered the hardest one-day race in the world. Up to 30 cobblestone sectors with a total length of about 50 kilometers wear down riders and equipment equally. The race ends in the legendary Roubaix Velodrome.

The Most Notorious Cobblestone Sectors (5-Star Difficulty):

• Arenberg Forest (2.4 km) - "Trench of Hell," extremely rough
• Mons-en-Pévèle (3 km) - Longest 5-star sector
• Carrefour de l'Arbre (2.1 km) - Last major sector, 15 km before the finish
• Trouée d'Arenberg - The most feared passage of all

4. Liège-Bastogne-Liège (La Doyenne)

Date: Last Sunday in April
Distance: approx. 260 km
Country: Belgium
Nickname: "La Doyenne" (The Old Lady)

As the oldest Monument (first held in 1892), Liège-Bastogne-Liège concludes the Ardennes classics week. The hilly route through the Belgian Ardennes with its short, steep climbs ("Côtes") favors puncheurs and strong climbers.

Characteristic Climbs:

• Côte de La Redoute (2 km at 9.5%) - Traditionally decisive climb
• Côte de Saint-Nicolas (1.3 km at 9.3%) - Only 6 km before the finish
• Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.5 km at 11%) - New key climb since 2008
• Côte de Stockeu, Wanne, Rosier - Additional energy-draining ramps

Special Feature: The race follows a loop from Liège to Bastogne and back - hence the symmetrical name.

5. Tour of Lombardy (Il Lombardia)

Date: First Saturday in October
Distance: approx. 240 km
Country: Italy
Nickname: "The Race of the Falling Leaves" or "Autumn Classic"

The Tour of Lombardy concludes the classics season and is considered the most beautiful one-day race. The mountainous route around Lake Como is ideal for climbers and offers spectacular landscapes.

Iconic Climbs:

• Madonna del Ghisallo (8.6 km at 6%) - Cycling pilgrimage site
• Muro di Sormano (1.9 km at 15.8%, max. 27%) - Optional, extremely brutal
• Civiglio (4.1 km at 9.7%) - Traditional key climb
• San Fermo della Battaglia (2.7 km at 7.2%) - Last climb before Como

Categorization of One-Day Races

Besides the five Monuments, there are numerous other prestigious one-day races classified by their UCI category:

Semi-Classics and Important One-Day Races

Besides the Monuments, there are other high-profile one-day races often called "semi-classics":

Spring Semi-Classics

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium, February)

• Opens the Flemish classics season
• "Mini Tour of Flanders" with similar climbs
• Important form test for the major classics

Strade Bianche (Italy, March)

• Spectacular race over Tuscan gravel roads (Strade Bianche)
• 63 km unpaved roads
• Finish in the medieval Piazza del Campo in Siena

E3 Saxo Classic (Belgium, March)

• Important barometer before the Tour of Flanders
• Similar route to "De Ronde"

Gent-Wevelgem (Belgium, March)

• "Sprinters' classic" with wind susceptibility
• Famous Kemmelberg climb
• Often characterized by strong crosswind situations

Ardennes Week

Amstel Gold Race (Netherlands, April)

• Opens the Ardennes classics week
• Over 30 short, steep climbs ("Hellingen")
• Circuit race finishing in Valkenburg

Flèche Wallonne (Belgium, Wednesday before Liège-Bastogne-Liège)

• Uphill finish at the notorious Mur de Huy
• Three ascents of the 1.3 km ramp (9.6% average, 26% maximum)
• Decision in the last 200 meters

Autumn Classics

Bretagne Classic (France, August)

• Most important French one-day race after Paris-Roubaix
• Hilly coastal route in Brittany

Eschborn-Frankfurt (Germany, May)

• Germany's most important one-day race
• Flat to hilly, often sprint finish

Clasica San Sebastian (Spain, August)

• Basque one-day race with steep ramps
• Important test before the Vuelta a España

Tactics and Strategy in One-Day Races

The "All-or-Nothing" Mentality

Unlike stage races where mistakes can be corrected the next day, one-day races only count the result of that single day. This special feature leads to:

More Aggressive Riding:

• Early attacks and frequent accelerations
• Higher risk-taking on descents
• Less tactical restraint

Specialization:

• Riders focus on few target races per season
• Preparation specifically for cobblestones, climbs or wind conditions
• Equipment selection (tires, frames) perfectly adapted to race characteristics

Team Tactics

Lead-Out for Sprinters:

In flat classics like Milan-Sanremo, teams form perfect lead-out trains:

• Position 6-3km before finish: Control pace, protect captain
• Position 3-1km: Form lead-out train
• Last 500m: Final acceleration
• Last 200m: Sprinter launches final sprint

Attack Tactics for Climbers:

In hilly classics, teams rely on serial attacks:

• Early accelerations for decimation
• Multiple attacks for attrition
• Surprise attacks at atypical locations

Control Tactics:

Dominant teams can try to control the race:

• Set pace at the front
• Keep breakaway in check
• Protect favorites from wind and crashes

Individual Tactics

Physical Requirements

Performance Profiles

Monument Winners - Typical FTP Values:

• Flat classics (Milan-Sanremo): 400-440 Watts, 5.5-6.0 W/kg
• Cobblestone classics (Flanders, Roubaix): 420-460 Watts, 5.8-6.3 W/kg
• Hilly classics (Liège-Bastogne-Liège): 390-430 Watts, 6.0-6.5 W/kg
• Mountain classics (Lombardy): 380-420 Watts, 6.2-6.8 W/kg

Energy Consumption:

• Average calorie consumption: 5,000-7,000 kcal per race
• Peak loads: Up to 1,500 Watts during final attacks
• Average speed: 40-45 km/h (depending on terrain)
• Race duration: 5-7 hours

Famous Classics Hunters

The Legends

Eddy Merckx (Belgium)

• 19 Monument victories (record)
• 7x Milan-Sanremo, 3x Flanders, 2x Paris-Roubaix, 2x Liège, 5x Lombardy
• "The Cannibal" dominated the 1960s and 1970s

Roger De Vlaeminck (Belgium)

• 4x Paris-Roubaix winner (record together with Tom Boonen)
• "Monsieur Paris-Roubaix"
• Specialized in cobblestone classics

Tom Boonen (Belgium)

• 4x Paris-Roubaix, 3x Tour of Flanders
• Modern icon of Flemish classics
• Dominated 2005-2012

Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)

• 3x Tour of Flanders, 3x Paris-Roubaix
• "Spartacus" - Master of spring classics
• Time trial record holder

Philippe Gilbert (Belgium)

• Only active rider with 4 different Monument victories
• Amstel Gold Race, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Flanders, Lombardy

Modern Stars

Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)

• Youngest generation of classics hunters
• 2x Tour of Flanders, Milan-Sanremo, Amstel Gold
• Versatility: Road, MTB, Cyclocross

Wout van Aert (Belgium)

• Rival of van der Poel
• Specialized in spring classics
• Amstel Gold, Gent-Wevelgem, multiple semi-classics wins

Julian Alaphilippe (France)

• 2x Tour of Flanders, Milan-Sanremo
• Specialist for hilly classics
• 4x Flèche Wallonne winner

Equipment Specifics for Classics

Special Equipment for Cobblestones

Frames:

• Reinforced carbon layups for damping
• Greater tire clearance (up to 30mm)
• More robust paint finish against stone chips

Wheels:

• More stable spoke patterns (32-36 spokes instead of 20-24)
• Wider rims for better tire support
• Tubeless systems to prevent punctures

Tires:

• Width: 28-30mm (instead of standard 25mm)
• Air pressure: 4.5-5.5 bar (instead of 7-8 bar)
• Reinforced casing with puncture protection

Miscellaneous:

• Extra gel handlebar tape for damping
• Padded saddles
• Stable pedals and cleats
• Spare wheels on team vehicles

The Significance of One-Day Races

Cultural Relevance

One-day races are more than sport - they are cultural heritage:

In Flanders:

• Tour of Flanders is virtually a national holiday
• Over 1 million spectators along the route
• Schools and shops sometimes close

In France:

• Paris-Roubaix as symbol of working-class sport
• Historical context (World War I, destroyed roads)
• Identification with the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region

Economic Significance:

• Millions of TV viewers worldwide
• Tourism boost in host regions
• Sponsorship platform for brands

Prestige and Appreciation

Frequently Asked Questions about One-Day Races

Future of One-Day Races

Modern Developments

Women's Cycling:

• Paris-Roubaix Femmes since 2021 (historic!)
• Growing importance of women's classics
• Equalization of prize money

Technological Innovation:

• Live tracking and data transmission
• Drone cameras for spectacular TV images
• E-bikes for race support (team managers, mechanics)

Sustainability Efforts:

• Reduction of single-use plastic
• Electric support vehicles
• More environmentally friendly spectator infrastructure

Format Experiments:

• Shorter distances for more dynamics?
• Additional bonuses for intermediate sprints
• Extended live TV coverage from kilometer 0

Related Topics

Other important aspects around one-day races and road racing:

• Road Racing - Overview of all forms of road cycling
• Classics - Detailed info on Monument Classics
• Monument Classics - The five most prestigious one-day races
• Grand Tours - For comparison: Multi-day stage races
• Stage Races - From week-long races to three-week Grand Tours