What Are the Five Monuments?

The Five Monuments are the five most prestigious single-day championships in professional world cycling. They are also the oldest races, dating back 119 years. The five are, in order on the tour schedule, Milan-San Remo, in Italy; Tour of Flanders, in Belgium since 1913; Paris-Roubaix, held in northern France; Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a 160-mile race held between two cities in eastern Belgium; and the Tour of Lombardy, the last major classic of each year, which runs through northern Italy. World cycling has dozens of races each year, but the winners of these five include the sport's greatest champions.

  1. Milan-San Remo

    • The Milan-San Remo cycling classic is the longest of the five classics, at 180 miles, but is usually a sprinter's race.

      Milan-San Remo, or the Spring Classic, is the first of the Five Monuments on the world tour and is held in March. Since its start in 1907, the race has been canceled three times due to wars. At 298 kilometers, or 180 miles, the Milan-San Remo is the longest of the five major classics. It runs from Milan, Italy, to San Remo, which is a town on the Riviera. Italy has had the most victories, winning 50 of the 101 races. In 2010, Spain's Oscar Freire won the race, taking 20,000 euros. Eddy Merckx of Belgium holds the record of most wins, at seven. Cycling fans know this race as La Primavera.

    Tour of Flanders

    • Professional cyclists endure grueling uphill climbs and the risk of serious crashes during each of the five major classics.

      The Tour of Flanders, Belgium's classic race, was created by the owner of the Sportwereld newspaper in 1913 to increase circulation and is held in April. It's about 265 kilometers, or 165 miles, in length. The first half of the race is flat and fast, while the second half treats cyclists to grueling stretches of uphill, cobblestoned streets. The narrow cobblestone climbs bring out the warrior in cyclists, who must endure relentless shaking and risk punctured tires and serious crashes. Cyclists have also faced the climbs in rainy weather. In 1969, Eddy Merckx won by over five minutes in atrocious weather.

    Paris-Roubaix

    • Cycling has dozens of categorized races, but the Five Monuments remain the oldest and among the most thrilling.

      Paris-Roubaix, held every April since 1896 in Northern France, is a difficult course even in perfect cycling weather. At 265 kilometers, or 165 miles, it has large stretches of terrain that include cobblestones, prompting cyclists to dub the race "The Hell of the North." Rain turns the course into a dangerous route of unseen hazards beneath mud and water. Known to cycling fans as "The Queen of the Classics," Paris-Roubaix guarantees thrills each year and is held in late April. For more than 30 years, the race's winner receives a trophy made from a giant cobblestone. Belgians have won 53 of the 108 editions, while France has had 27 victories.

    Liege-Bastogne-Liege

    • Nicknamed "the Oldest" of the Five Monuments, Belgium's Liege-Bastogne-Liege began in 1892 as an amateur race and turned professional two years later. It is held in late April. The course is roughly 260 kilometers, or 160 miles, and makes a round trip between the cities of Liege and Bastogne. The course includes the Ardennes Mountains. The second half of the race features short but extremely steep climbs that include slopes of up to 12 percent. The late-spring start means unpredictable weather, often wind and rain. Belgians have won 57 of 95 races, including Eddy Merckx, who holds the record for wins, with five.

    Tour of Lombardy

    • The Tour of Lombardy in Italy is the final race of the European cycling season and is nicknamed "The Race of the Falling Leaves," given its autumn date, which is typically in October. The Tour of Lombardy, which translates into Italian as Giro di Lombardia, has no set course and varies in length each year. Italians have dominated this classic held on their home turf, winning 68 times since the first race, in 1905. At about 260 kilometers, or 160 miles, the course runs through the Lombardy region of northern Italy, where stunning landscapes include picturesque lakes and pastures.