Wheel Talk Newsletter: Only two Classics left?

The cycling calendar, ever-unforgiving, signals the imminent conclusion of the Spring Classics season, with only two significant one-day races remaining on the UCI WorldTour schedule. Following the recent ardour of the Ardennes, attention now shifts to Eschborn-Frankfurt on May 1st and the Grand Prix du Morbihan on May 11th, marking the final opportunities for riders and teams to secure a prestigious Spring Classic victory before the focus irrevocably pivots to the Grand Tours.

This dwindling number of remaining Classics underscores the brutal brevity of this revered segment of the season. For many riders, particularly those who specialise in the cobbled monuments or the hilly Ardennes, their primary objectives for the year are already behind them. The remaining races, while important for their own prestige and UCI points, often serve as a transitional period, offering a last hurrah for some and a chance for others to fine-tune form or salvage a challenging spring campaign before the Giro d'Italia commences.

So, the curtain falls, as it always does. For those who thrive in the mud and grit of April, it's a long wait until next year. For the rest, the mountains beckon.