Clear your diary for Sunday 14^th April, sit back and enjoy the 117^th edition of Paris-Roubaix, comprising 257km and 29 sections of pave covering 54.5km. The ‘Queen of the Classics’ is arguably the most prestigious one-day race in cycling and begins in Compiegne, situated to the east of the French capital, before finishing in the iconic open-air velodrome at Roubaix.

In between the riders face debilitating cobbles with the Troueé d’Arenberg (164.5km), Mons-en-Pévèle (212km) and Carrefour de l’Arbre (242.5km) given five-star status as the hardest and longest of the race. There’s a degree of respite before then with the 29 sectors of pave not beginning until the 97km mark. The biggest crowds of the day are often reserved for sector 5 (Camphin-en-Pévèle, 239.5km) and sector 4 (Carrefour de l’Arbre) where the final attacks are typically made.

Will the biggest cheers be reserved for Philippe Gilbert (Infinito R1 shoes)? The 36-year-old legend made his Paris-Roubaix debut in 2018 and looked strong in the lead group before suffering from hydration issues. Has he learnt his fuelling lesson second time around?

After a strong ride for World Champion Alejandro Valverde at Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, Movistar Team’s hopes now rest on Belgian Jurgen Roelandts’ shoulders. The 33-year-old has been putting in some fine rides in the early part of the 2019 campaign – his first season with the Spanish team – and will relish the lead role, with support from a squad including the experience of Daniele Bennati, 38, and the youth of Jamie Castrillo who has just turned 23.

Team Sky’s attacking intent could come from any number of riders. Dylan van Baarle lit up last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, forging a four-man breakaway for 20km of the 266km test. Van Baarle was reeled in but dug deep – again – in the final kilometer but lost out in a group sprint. Gianni Moscon and Luke Rowe both have Paris-Roubaix top-10s on their palmares.

Wout van Aert leads Team Jumbo-Visma off the back of an assured Milan-Sanremo, third at Strade Bianche and second at the E3 BinckBank Classic. In his second Roubaix appearance, he’ll look for protection from the experienced Amund Grondahl Jansen and Maarten Wynants.

AG2R La Mondiale has real strength in depth at Paris-Roubaix, specifically with Silvan Dillier and Oliver Naesen. Dillier was the only rider capable of staying with Peter Sagan at the 2018 edition, the two leaders entering the velodrome together before the Slovak pipped the Swiss at the line. Naesen has enjoyed spring, finishing second at Milan-Sanremo and third at Gent-Wevelgem… can the 28-year-old turn them into victory come Sunday 14^th?

The 103^rd edition of de Ronde van Vlaanderen – the Tour of Flanders – takes place on Sunday 7^th April, 270.1km of parcours featuring a staggering 17 hills and five stretches of pave. It’s the second monument of the season after March’s Milan-Sanremo where AGR2 La Mondiale’s Oliver Naesen and Team Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski finished second and third, respectively.

The riders ‘enjoy’ their first taste of the cobbles after 80km on the Lippenhovenstraat and Paddestraat. The cobbled climb up Oude Kwaremont makes its first appearance after 120km and then, with around 170km on the clock, the riders hit the Wall of Geraardsbergen. The legendary 1km ascent maxes out at 20% before cresting beside the iconic chapel. The closing Paterberg is only 360m long but averages 12.9%, peaks at 20.3% and could decide the race. But which of cycling’s hardmen will win?

You can’t ignore 2017 winner Philippe Gilbert (he was wearing R1B shoes then and rides Infinito R1 now) who would love to improve on his third place last year, albeit abandoning through sickness in Wednesday’s Dwars doors Vlaanderen casts doubts. As for other leading contenders…

Movistar Team’s World Champion Alejandro Valverde is making his Flanders debut. The 38-year-old suggests his inexperience on the pave might prevent victory but cycling is nothing if not unpredictable. And, of course, El Bala will have experienced Belgian teammate Jurgen Roelandts alongside him. Nelson Oliveira also showed good form attacking at Dwars doors Vlaanderen.

Luke Rowe heads into Flanders for Team Sky, looking strong at Dwars doors Vlaanderen. The longer distance – 270.1km versus 182km – could play into the Welshman’s hands. He’ll be supported by the likes of Gianni Moscon and Christian Knees.

Wout van Aert only joined the Dutch Team Jumbo-Visma on 1^st March but has already finished sixth at Milan-San Remo, third at Strade Bianche and second at the E3 BinckBank Classic. It’s why many have the three-time Cyclocross World Champion as their favorite. It’d be one of the most remarkable stories in the history of cycling if the 24-year-old can claim the Flanders crown.

AG2R La Mondiale’s Oliver Naesen’s third at Gent-Wevelgem is proof of the Belgian’s form. Aligned with the fact 69 of the previous editions of Tour of Flanders have been won by a Belgian, it’s clear to see why many are tipping the 28-year-old as the man to beat. His powerful team includes the experienced Tony Gallopin and Silvan Dillier.

The 74^th edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen, to be raced on Wednesday 3^rd April, serves up a familiar mix of cobbles and Flemish hills. The Belgian race starts in Roeselare and finishes 182.8km later in Waregem. In- between, the rides tackle 11 climbs and three stretches of pavé. Notable climbs include the Nieuwe Kwaremont after 80km; the Knokteberg, covered twice; and the 500m (5.7%) Nokereberg, which is the last ascent and is crested 9km before the finish line. On paper, it could play into the hands of Philippe Gilbert (Infinito R1 shoes) or these world-class riders…

Movistar Team’s World Champion Alejandro Valverde (Infinito R1 Iride shoes and 00 Iride saddle) was building form at the recent Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, and lines up for the second successive year targeting Dwars door Vlaanderen in his build-up to the Tour of Flanders on Sunday 7^th April.

Team Sky’s Luke Rowe saw a strong performance at Sunday’s Gent-Wevelgem, making the elite 18-man breakaway along with a massive solo effort in the final 50km to bridge back to the leading four. Look out for the Welshman threatening the lead at Dwars door Vlaanderen.

Danny van Poppel leads the Dutch Team Jumbo-Visma off the back of a fine ride at Gent-Wevelgem. The 25-year-old will look forward to an even stronger showing at Dwars door Vlaanderen, ably supported by the likes of Timo Roosen and Amund Grondahl Jansen.

Oliver Naesen (Antares R1 saddle and Infinito R1 shoes) continued his impressive spring with second at Sunday’s Gent-Wevelgem to add to his podium at Milan-Sanremo. AG2R La Mondiale’s 28-year-old Belgian will be a strong contender to mount the top step of the podium on Wednesday.

The renamed E3 BinckBank Classic, formerly E3 Harelbeke, takes place on Friday 29^th March and begins 10 days of glorious racing in Flanders. The parcours features 15 punchy climbs – ‘helligen’ – which are mainly concentrated into the second part of the 203.9km route. A number of cobbled section also appear in the latter stages, with increasing frequency in the final 50km, providing opportunities and danger in equal measure. The last 19km are flat, offering other opportunities, as last year’s second-placed Philippe Gilbert (Infinito R1 shoes) discovered – can he go one better this year? An impressive peloton of WorldTour riders line up including…

MOVISTAR TEAM 

Belgium’s Jürgen Roeland’s leads the Spanish team and is assisted by a mainly Spanish cast including José Joaquin Rojas, Carlos Barbero and Jorge Arcas. The 33-year-old has enjoyed a relatively modest start to 2019 but has a style proven to suit this terrain and may go under the radar in his new blue Movistar jersey.

TEAM SKY

Sky has several chances of victory in the form of Luke Rowe, Gianni Moscon, Ian Stannard and Owain Doull. Rowe already has 26 days of racing in his legs so will be physically and tactically primed to challenge. Moscon has far fewer race miles in his legs but will look to improve upon his eighth in 2018. And don’t rule out Doull and Stannard. Doull recorded the best result of his career to date with second at the recent Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, while at 31, Stannard’s strength is suited to the cobbles and climbs of E3.

TEAM JUMBO-VISMA

Three-time Cyclocross World Champion Wout van Aert leads the Dutch team, less than a month after joining. The 24-year-old Belgian’s certainly made an impressive impression, finishing third and sixth at Strade Bianche and Milan-Sanremo, respectively. Also look out for Danny van Poppel if E3 comes down to an albeit unlikely sprint finish.

AG2R LA MONDIALE

Oliver Naesen is one of the race favorites and with good reason. The 28-year-old Belgian finished second at last Saturday’s Milan-Sanremo and third and fourth at E3 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Naesen (Antares R1 saddle and Infinito R1 shoes) is supported by a strong sextet including 2018 Paris-Roubaix runner-up Silvan Dillier.

COFIDIS

The French ProContinental team will look to the likes of experienced Belgian rider Dimitri Claeys to keep in contention of what’s sure to be a challenging opening to the main cobbles season.

A hugely entertaining 110th edition of Milan-Sanremo – the first Monument of the season – resulted in a thrilling sprint finish, with AG2R La Mondiale’s Oliver Naesen taking second place, fractionally ahead of Team Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski, who was in search of a second win to match his 2017 victory.

“La Primavera”, the longest race on the WorldTour calendar, saw breakaways and attacks as each team pitted their wits and watts against each other, and against the classic Italian course. Its climbs, culminating in the Poggio just 5k before the finish split the field, but left a tight group of world-class riders – including World Champion Alejandro Valverde of Movistar Team – to battle for the podium places.

A late sprint to the line on the Via Roma saw the 28-year-old former Belgian national champion Naesen, and the former World Champion and current Polish champion Kwiatkowski take second and third, having covered the 291km in 6h40’14”, at an average speed of 43.625kph.

“It’s something unbelievable for me. It’s my first podium at a Monument so it’s something that I will cherish. I was hoping for a podium, but I didn’t expect it. This is not a race that suits me well, but now I’m ready for the cobbled Classics in my home country of Belgium,” said Naesen.

“Of course it’s a good result to be on the podium but when you’re so close to the victory of course you’re thinking if you could have done anything better to win it. It would have been a dream to win today… I’m very happy that Team Sky gave me the opportunity to go for another one,” said Kwiatkowski.

Congratulations to both riders for a superb result after an exciting – and very long – day in the saddle.

The 110th edition of La Primavera – “the spring” – is almost upon us. On Saturday 23 March, Milan-Sanremo, the first Monument of the year, will be contested by some of the world’s best riders from all of the world’s best teams. It’s a unique event that holds a special status for riders and fans alike.

At 291km it’s the longest one-day race on the calendar, and after the classic sequence of the “Capi” – Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta – the last of its hill is the Poggio, at just 5km to go. The final 2km are on flat, smooth tarmac, allowing the ‘fast wheels’ opportunities ahead of the finish line on the Via Rome in San Remo. With or without help from the weather it tests all types of riders – and presents chances for all kinds of specialists.

The last three editions have seen the winner decided by a solo breakaway, a group breakaway and a bunch sprint. So it’s understandable that the teams all take a different strategy, and a squad to reflect that. It’s often also a hugely interesting tactical battle, and a race where teamwork can pay off… Michal Kwiatkowski, for example, always considers his 2017 triumph to be a victory for Team Sky.

Kwiatkowski won Strade-Bianche that year on the way to Milan-Sanremo and this year his preparation was being part of the successful Paris-Nice campaign that saw a podium 1-2-3 for Team Sky’s Egan Bernal, Movistar Team’s Nairo Quintana and Kwiatkowski. Elsewhere, the other ‘warm-up’ races saw Team Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert claim a ‘White Roads’ podium spot and his teammate Primoz Roglic storm to his second stage race GC win of the year at Tirreno-Adriatico.

Here’s who to look out for in the squads:

Movistar Team lead with World Champion Alejandro Valverde and feature the experienced Classics specialist Jurgen Roelandts. Team Jumbo-Visma have drafted in sprinter Dylan Groenewegen (winner of the first two stages at Paris-Nice) in place of the injured Timo Roosen, alongside Belgain Wout van Aert. For Team Sky, look out for Kwiatkowski. And many people are excited to see what Romain Bardet can do at Milan-Sanremo after his steady GC 5th position at Paris-Nice for AG2R La Mondiale.

The seven-day “Race of the Two Seas” is a hugely popular event, with the WorldTour’s best riders competing in the beautiful yet challenging race from Italy’s west coast to its east coast. This year’s edition – the 54th, running from 13 to 19 March – boasts a start list that’s a who’s who of current cycling greats set to fight for the Neptune’s Trident trophy. And this year’s race just got even harder with route modifications that include a series of tough climbs – “muri” (walls) – through central Italy.

The traditional Tirreno-Adriatico time trials are retained – starting with a TTT and ending with an ITT – along with sprinter stages, but the new punchy climbs add another dimension to the stage hunters and the overall General Classification competition.

Some of the riders will have competed Strade Bianche and many combine it with the long one-day Milano-Sanremo race the following weekend. Many use it as a springboard for the Giro d’Italia…

Watch out for these riders

Some commentators are so impressed with Primoz Roglic’s form – particularly at the UAE Tour right across TT, sprint, climbing and of course his convincing GC crown – that they have him as favorite for Tirreno-Adriatico. Of course it might not be that simple, but with a super Team Jumbo-Visma squad including the big Dutch engines Robert Gesink, Jos van Emden, German TT master Tony Martin and exciting young Belgian Laurens De Plus, the Dutch outfit could conceivably win on all fronts.

Team Sky’s Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas will be looking for another podium, but won’t be looking up to Michal Kwiatkowski – the pole does not return to defend the title he won last year. Instead, look for stage wins and domestique support duties from Gianni Moscon and Wout Poels.

Even without double Tirreno-Adriatico winner Nairo Quintana, who heads to Paris-Nice, the Movistar Team list includes Spaniard José Rojas, Ecuadorian climbing machine Richard Carapaz and Portuguese powerhouse Nelson Oliviera.

AG2R La Mondiale’s seven-man squad includes the young German Nico Denz and the combative Swiss Silvan Dillier alongside Frenchmen Alexis Vuillermoz and Clement Venturini.

Leading the line for Cofidis is French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni, with support from his compatriot Julien Simon amongst others including the Eritraen all-rounder Natnael Berhane and the Belgian Kenneth Van.