Its the silly time of year for me. Spring is coming which means the Spring Classics. I just love this time of year for cycle racing. Domestically and Internationally. It really allows the hard men to shine. Its gives the opportunity for the riders who cannot and will never win a grand tour to say to the peloton. Just look how fast I am over one day.
In my opinion, the real racing season starts with Paris-Nice, the run to the sun. Ice,snow,wind,rain in the north of France all the way down to Nice and the warm springtime sunshine. This is followed quickly by the Northern European Classics. My favourite are the cobbles. The Grande Dames of racing. Paris-Roubaix, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Ghent-Wevelgem, Liege-Bastogne-Liege are for me where racings hard men shine.
The modern giants of cycling like Phillipe Gilbert, Fabian Cancellara, Peter van Petegem and Tom Boonen have made names for themselves in the Belgian heartlands but there can be only one true all conquering dominating figure in my eyes.
King Kelly himself. Sean Kelly always seemed to excel here. Maybe its just childhood memories being blurred, but i used think he was the best thing ever. I always pretended to be King Kelly when riding my Lazer Custom around the village. Attacking hard up Vicarage bank to the sweet shop. Yes for me, Sean Kelly was the all conquering hero of the Spring Classics.
So roll on Springtime and lets which new king will arrive to make himself a name amongst the gods.
Sean Kelly's Spring Classic wins
1982
Paris - Nice
1983
Paris - Nice
1984
Paris - Roubaix
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Paris - Nice
1985
Paris - Nice
1986
Milan - San Remo
Paris - Roubaix
Paris - Nice
1987
Paris - Nice
1988
Paris - Nice
Ghent - Wevelgem
1989
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
1992
Milan - San Remo
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