![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/description-p3-150x150.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe cycling season proper kicks off in Ghent at the end of February with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Both the men & women’s pro peloton race on the Saturday before the amatuers get their turn on the Sunday. The route takes in many of the cobbled sections and climbs featured in the Tour of Flanders. The action is packed into the middle of the ride, sandwiched in between two quick sections along the Schelde to and from Ghent. The sportive has less climbing than most other European rides so makes a great season starter – and Ghent is a great host for a fabulous cycling weekend.<\/p>\n
Summary – A great introduction to the spring classics with some iconic cobbled sections. Like L’Eroica, the pro race also grew rapidly becoming a favourite for riders and fans alike. To complete the circle, in 2014 there was the first Strade Bianche sportive – an event dedicated to a pro race which is dedicated to a sportive. This sportive takes you into the beautiful Chianti countryside over the famed white roads and has probably the best finish of any event with a sharp climb leading into the glorious Piazza del Campo in Siena. There are two route options, 124km and 87km. Difficulty – 3\/5 The full route follows the pro race exactly.<\/p>\n Summary – Beautiful course with early season climbing on the Cote d’Azur Summary – A different part of Flanders to explore with some great cobbled climbs Summary – A well organised and popular homage to this legendary pro race Difficulty – 5\/5 The last of these is the Cauberg, a classic short, sharp ramp in the middle of town where huge crowds cheer you on and DJs blare out music to keep your legs moving. After this climb is a 2km straight sprint to the finish line where the race sponsors make sure the beers are flowing.<\/p>\n Summary – A party atmosphere, a lumpy sportive and a great finish in the heart of Valkenburg. Summary – Finish your spring off in style with this challenging sportive in the Ardennes. Summary – Discover a different part of Italy and enjoy the spectacle of the Giro. The event is massively popular with entries selling out to the general public in the days after the route is officially announced. This year the stage goes from Megeve to Morzine over four long climbs culminating in the Col de Joux Plane. Watching the pros ride your stage brings immense satisfaction, in 2015 the entire Sky team were dropped by the peloton on the first climb making us amateurs feel very smug that we conquered a route that the pros struggled with. No doubt there will be some casualties in the Tour on this stage in 2016.<\/p>\n
\nDifficulty – 2\/5
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 3\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nStrade Bianche | Mar 6th | Siena, Italy<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/home5_img-6-150x150.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nThe origins of the Strade Bianche sportive are unusual. In 1997 a group of cycling enthusiasts started L’Eroica – a vintage sportive celebrating the heroes of a bygone era in the sport. This event grew rapidly in popularity and a pro race was introduced over the same gravel roads. <\/p>\n
\nSummary – A unique sportive over Tuscany’s famed gravel roads with a stunning finish in Siena.<\/p>\n
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 3\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nParis Nice | Mar 12th | Nice, France<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/home5_img-7-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/avatar_2.jpg\"){kind=avatar}
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nNew to 2016, the Paris Nice Challenge is your first chance of the year to ride some more serious hills and get some longer climbs into your legs. A day before the last stage of the famous pro race, the Paris Nice Challenge starts and finished on the Esplenade in Nice before heading north to tackle a number of climbs taking in a total of 2250m of elevation – more than double the climbing of the two earlier sportives. This is a good sportive to bookmark for a training event if you have your sights on the Marmotte or Etape. <\/p>\n
\nDifficulty – 3\/5
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 4\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nGent Wevelgem | Mar 26th | Wevelgem, Belgium<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Gent-Wevelgem-Logo_fbacmd-1-150x150.jpg\"){kind=logo}
\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nThe spring classics season proper kicks off with Gent Wevelgem at the end of March. The race takes in Western Flanders past WW1 battlefields and is centered around Ypres. The main climb is the Kemmelberg with 23% segments but it is not as tough a route as others later in the season. The ride finishes with a long spring into Wevelgem where you can battle your mates for glory under the same finish line as the pros. There are route options from 60km to 220km to choose from.<\/p>\n
\nDifficulty – 3\/5
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 3\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nTour of Flanders | Apr 2nd | Oudenaarde, Belgium<\/h2>\n
\nThe big one for people in this part of the world. The sportive has been going for over 25 years and is ridden by 16,000 cycling enthusiasts from around the world. Choose the long route and follow the pro route closely from Bruges to Oudenaarde or take on the two shorter routes to just tackle the highlights around Oudenaarde. The sportive is so popular that you will need to fight your way up the packed, narrow climbs of the Paterberg and Koppenberg. The upside of this is that you will always have pelotons to join so your average speed should be quick. The route looks immaculate the day before the pro race with advertising banners up, hospitality marquees ready and plenty of locals cheering you on.<\/p>\n
\nDifficulty – 3\/5
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 4\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nParis Roubaix | Apr 9th | Roubaix, France<\/h2>\n
![\"Paris](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Roubaix-Logo_opt_cjya11-1-150x150.png\"){kind=logo}
\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nThe most famous one day race in the world has for the last 5 years had its own spring sportive. Unlike other sportives in the year, it is almost impossible to train for riding this far on cobbles this brutal so all of the 5,500 competitors are in the same boat and on the tougher sectors it is all about survival. The long route starts in Busigny but there is a shuttle service from Roubaix making this logistically an easy ride. There are also medium and short routes starting and finishing in Roubaix. All the famous parts of the race are included – Arenberg, Carrefour de l’Arbre and the finish in the famous velodrome.
\nSummary – Unique, a must do for every cyclist at least once to experience what its like to ride Paris Roubaix<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 4\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nAmstel Gold | Apr 16th | Valkenburg, Holland<\/h2>\n
\nA huge weekend of cycling in Holland. Amstel Gold is the biggest pro race in the Dutch calendar and the sportive is massively over subscribed with only the lucky 16,000 able to ride. There are numerous route options catering to mixed abilities. The sportive starts and finished in Valkenburg, a proper cycling town that has hosted more UCI World Championships than anywhere else. The pace is quick with many Dutch Cycling Clubs riding a quick tempo and the hills come thick and fast.<\/p>\n
\nDifficulty – 3\/5
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 4\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nLiege Bastogne Liege | Apr 23rd | Liege, Belgium<\/h2>\n
![\"Liege](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Liege-Logo_opt_o9e078-1-150x150.png\"){kind=logo}
\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nThe final, oldest and hardest of the spring classics. Riding the long route on the sportive is 273km and over 4600m of elevation. This makes it tougher than the Etape du Tour and many of the other mountain sportives of the summer. The elevation comes from the sheer volume of hills coming in all shapes and sizes with a couple of very challenges climbs featuring gradients of 20%+. The organisers to a good job of making the sportive feel as close to the pro race as possible with individual video and timings on the major climbs and great facilities at the finish.<\/p>\n
\nDifficulty – 5\/5
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 4\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nGiro d’Italia | May 22nd | Cividale del Friuli, Italy<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportivebreaks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/avatar_3-150x150.jpg\"){kind=avatar}
\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nItaly’s biggest cycling race occupies the attention of the nation in May as the best riders in the world fight it out for the pink jersey across all corners of this beautiful country. This sportive is Italy’s answer to the Etape du Tour and gives you the opportunity to ride a stage of the Giro. This year the event is in the Eastern Julian Alps with five local climbs to overcome. Now in it’s second year, this sportive promises to be a major event in the calendar and will only become more popular. The route options are 132km, the same route as the pros apart from the first short section, and an easier 77km route. The Giro takes on this stage three days before the sportive.<\/p>\n
\nDifficulty – 3\/5
\nSimilarity to Pro Race – 4\/5
\nMore info here<\/a><\/p>\nEtape du Tour | Jul 10th | Morzine, France<\/h2>\n
\nThe most famous cycling race in the world and the most famous sportive in the world. This is the closest you can get to riding a pro race. The route follows the pro stage exactly with closed roads, timed climbs and green jersey sections. <\/p>\n