Category: Previews

Harelbeke > Harelbeke 204.7km One of the best races of the season. It might have a shit name, but this is a golden race. Calling it a mini-Flanders does it a disservice, this is a race that is real test of power and strength. We’ve seen QuickStep dominate the last three editions, but is the...

La Seu d’Urgell > Boí Taüll 167.1km The Queen stage with 3420m of climbing. We have three big climbs, all of them feature steady gradients, but it’s still a big day of climbing. With so many riders still relatively close to the race lead, this is a stage that could get messy. It’s going to...

Perpignan > La Molina 160.8km First of the GC days and we return to La Molina. History tells us this is a climb where making differences between the best riders is hard, especially with just one ascent. The organisers have tried to make the earlier part of the stage quite hard, but both cat 1...

Brugge > De Panne 205.9km The surprisingly few days of De Panne! Get ready for a big sprint. Weather A cracking day over in Belgium. Lots of sun and not much wind, it won’t be splitting in De Moeren. Finale The same finish as last year, it’s tricky to get right. We spend much of...

L’Escala > Perpignan 201.9km The second stage should be an opportunity for the pure sprinters. We only have 2306m of climbing over the 200km, with the last of the classified climbs cresting with over 60km to go. Expect to see Bahrain, BikeExchange and UAE look to ensure the break is weak. A small move featuring...

Sant Feliu de Guíxols > Sant Feliu de Guíxols 171.4km The opening stage is a tricky one for the bunch. With only 1782m of climbing, you would normally expect this to be one for the sprinters, but I’m not too sure. Some will hope to be there for the finish, but puncheurs will sense a...

The peloton rolls into town for another exciting edition of Catalunya, a race that many can call their home event. Without a TT, the race is wide open and will interest many of the talented climbers here. The organisers have brought back a climb that’s not been in the race for a very long time,...

Cocquio Trevisago > Cittiglio 141.7km The women’s world tour continues with the 47th edition of this race. The route is the same as last year, with four laps of the tricky finishing circuit. To win this race you need to have your climbing legs, having a fast sprint is also a plus. Weather Beautiful sunshine and...

Milano > Sanremo 292.9km The first monument of the season is here, it’s time for Milan-Sanremo. The route reverts to normal, and we’ll see the same race we get every year. I’m not a fan, but at least the final 30 minutes is exciting. Weather Not a bad day for a bike race. Interestingly, we’ll...

Bredene > Koksijde 199km The route is very similar to last year, with the bunch heading south from Ostend, two times up the Kemmelberg, before heading north through De Moeren and then taking on a lap circuit in Koksijde. Most of the riders will be keeping an eye on the weather. Weather Sunny, but the...