Cobblestones, like mountaineous terrain, are decisive elements in courses of cycling

Road bicycle racing

Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...

. Many classic cycle races in northwestern Europe contain cobbled sections. The two classics of this race type are the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix, with over 20 cobbled sectors. The first semi-classic with cobbled sections is Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which traditionally opens the Belgian classics season, followed the next day by Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne.

Starting late March, the Vlaamse Wielerweek (Flemish cycling week) kicks off the most important period for cobbled cycling classics. This multi-day event includes the semi-classic Dwars door Vlaanderen

Dwars door Vlaanderen

Dwars door Vlaanderen is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race. Traditionally, it is the start of the Flemish cycling week, with Gent–Wevelgem , the Three Days of De Panne and the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Dwars door Vlaanderen has always been contested on a Wednesday, a week and a half before the...

, the stage-race Driedaagse van De Panne and finally the highlight of the Flemish cycling year, the Monumental Ronde van Vlaanderen. These events are followed by yet another semi-classic on Flemish roads, Gent–Wevelgem (a UCI ProTour

UCI ProTour

The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...

 event), the historical Paris–Roubaix (another Monument) and lastly, the one day race Grote Scheldeprijs

Grote Scheldeprijs

The Scheldeprijs is a Flanders Classics cycling race which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten. The event, ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is seen as a race for sprinters, held on flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres. The race is one circuit of 155 kilometres into the...

.

Among the cobbled cycling races the three most prestigious are usually held within a 8-day timeframe in early April: the Ronde on Sunday, Gent–Wevelgem on Wednesday followed by "L'Enfer du Nord", Paris–Roubaix.

In 1962 Belgian rider Rik van Looy

Rik Van Looy

Henri van Looy is a Belgian former professional cyclist of the post-war period, nicknamed the King of the Classics or Emperor of Herentals...

 won the treble.

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Overview

Race	Country	Start	Finish	Cobbled sections	Winner 2010
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad		Ghent Ghent Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...	Ghent Ghent Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...	7	Juan Antonio Flecha Juan Antonio Flecha Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni is an Argentine-born Spanish professional road bicycle racer for the UCI ProTour team .-Career:...
Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne		Kuurne Kuurne Kuurne is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Kuurne proper. On January 1, 2006 Kuurne had a total population of 12,591. The total area is 10.01 km² which gives a population density of 1258 inhabitants per km².Inhabitants...	Kuurne Kuurne Kuurne is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Kuurne proper. On January 1, 2006 Kuurne had a total population of 12,591. The total area is 10.01 km² which gives a population density of 1258 inhabitants per km².Inhabitants...	8	Bobbie Traksel Bobbie Traksel Bobbie Traksel is a Dutch professional racing cyclist for . In 2000, Traksel showed considerable promise by winning the Under-23 version of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and turned professional in 2001 with . In 2002, Traksel's surprise win at the Veenendaal–Veenendaal showed his speed and bicycle...
Le Samyn Le Samyn Memorial José Samyn is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in March in Fayt-le-Franc, Belgium, starting in Frameries and finishing in Dour. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...		Frameries Frameries Frameries is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On June 21st 2011 Frameries had a total population of about 20,652...	Dour Dour Dour is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 16,810 inhabitants. The total area is 33.32 km², giving a population density of 505 inhabitants per km²....		Jens Keukeleire Jens Keukeleire Jens Keukeleire is a professional road racing cyclist currently riding for UCI Professional Continental team .- Cycling career :2010...
Nokere Koerse		Oudenaarde Oudenaarde Oudenaarde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Oudenaarde proper and the towns of Bevere, Edelare, Eine, Ename, Heurne, Leupegem, Mater, Melden, Mullem, Nederename, Welden, Volkegem and a part of Ooike.From the 15th to the 18th...	Nokere		Jens Keukeleire Jens Keukeleire Jens Keukeleire is a professional road racing cyclist currently riding for UCI Professional Continental team .- Cycling career :2010...
Dwars door Vlaanderen Dwars door Vlaanderen Dwars door Vlaanderen is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race. Traditionally, it is the start of the Flemish cycling week, with Gent–Wevelgem , the Three Days of De Panne and the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Dwars door Vlaanderen has always been contested on a Wednesday, a week and a half before the...		Roeselaere	Waregem Waregem Waregem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality lies in the valley of the Leie River, between Kortrijk and Ghent. It is part of the arrondissement of Kortrijk and comprises the towns of Beveren, Desselgem, Sint-Eloois-Vijve and Waregem proper. On...	11	Matti Breschel Matti Breschel Matti Breschel is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who currently rides for UCI ProTeam .-Career:He got his breakthrough with small Danish Team PH, finishing 6th at the U/23 Cycling World Championship in Verona in 2004 where he helped fellow Dane Mads Christensen finish 3rd...
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen E3 Prijs Vlaanderen The E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....		Harelbeke Harelbeke Harelbeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Harelbeke proper and the towns of Bavikhove and Hulste. On January 1, 2006 Harelbeke had a total population of 26,172...	Harelbeke Harelbeke Harelbeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Harelbeke proper and the towns of Bavikhove and Hulste. On January 1, 2006 Harelbeke had a total population of 26,172...	13	Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...
Gent–Wevelgem		Deinze Deinze Deinze is a city and a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Deinze proper and the towns of Astene, Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Gottem, Grammene, Meigem, Petegem-aan-de-Leie, Sint-Martens-Leerne, Vinkt, Wontergem and Zeveren. On January 1,...	Wevelgem Wevelgem Wevelgem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Gullegem, Moorsele and Wevelgem proper. On January 1, 2006 Wevelgem had a total population of 31,020...	4	Bernhard Eisel Bernhard Eisel Bernhard Eisel is an Austrian professional road bicycling racer who currently rides for . He will join Team Sky for the 2012 season.-Career:...
Driedaagse De Panne Three Days of De Panne The Three Days of De Panne is a mid-week, three-day stage race before the Ronde van Vlaanderen in De Panne in West Flanders, Belgium. It is rated 2.HC by the UCI and is part of the UCI Europe Tour.- Winners :...  - Stage 1		Middelkerke Middelkerke Middelkerke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, on the North Sea, west of Ostend. The municipality comprises the towns of Leffinge, Lombardsijde, Mannekensvere, Middelkerke proper, Schore, Sint-Pieters-Kapelle, Slijpe, Westende and Wilskerke. On January 1, 2006...	Zottegem Zottegem Zottegem is a municipality located in Belgium and more particularly in Flanders, in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Zottegem proper and the villages of Elene, Erwetegem, Godveerdegem, Grotenberge, Leeuwergem, Oombergen, Sint-Goriks-Oudenhove,...		David Millar David Millar David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...
Ronde van Vlaanderen		Brugge Brügge Brügge is a municipality in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.Its small church and market square are noted for their beauty....	Meerbeke Meerbeke Meerbeke is a village in the Denderstreek in the province of East Flanders in Belgium. Administratively it is part of the municipality of Ninove. This rural community is located along the Dender River on the western border of what is known as "Pajottenland". With a total surface of 1047ha it is the...	28	Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...
Grote Scheldeprijs Grote Scheldeprijs The Scheldeprijs is a Flanders Classics cycling race which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten. The event, ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is seen as a race for sprinters, held on flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres. The race is one circuit of 155 kilometres into the...		Antwerp	Schoten Schoten Schoten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Schoten proper. On January 1, 2006 Schoten had a total population of 33,160. The total area is which gives a population density of 1,122 inhabitants per km². Schoten abuts the...	3	Tyler Farrar Tyler Farrar Tyler Farrar is an American professional road racing cyclist since 2003.-Cycling career:Farrar started racing at 13, and rode for in 2003, in 2004, and in 2006 and 2007. In April 2006 he crashed near the finish of the Circuit de la Sarthe and broke his collarbone and missed most of the season...
Paris–Roubaix		Compiègne Compiègne Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...	Roubaix Roubaix Roubaix is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located between the cities of Lille and Tourcoing.The Gare de Roubaix railway station offers connections to Lille, Tourcoing, Antwerp, Ostend and Paris.-Culture:...	27	Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...
Vlaamse Druivenkoers Druivenkoers Overijse Druivenkoers Overijse is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in August in Overijse, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...		Overijse Overijse Overijse is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On December 31, 2008 Overijse had a total population of 24,410...	Overijse Overijse Overijse is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On December 31, 2008 Overijse had a total population of 24,410...		Björn Leukemans Björn Leukemans Björn Leukemans is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. During 2008 Leukemans was suspended for doping with artificial testosterone. For 2009 he joined the .- Palmares :2011...
Schaal Sels-Merksem Schaal Sels-Merksem Schaal Sels-Merksem is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Merksem, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...		Merksem Merksem Merksem is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It has almost 41,000 inhabitants.-History:The history of Merksem goes back to Gallo-Roman times. During that period the region was mentioned as Merk and Heim being part of the diocese Kamerijk...	Merksem Merksem Merksem is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It has almost 41,000 inhabitants.-History:The history of Merksem goes back to Gallo-Roman times. During that period the region was mentioned as Merk and Heim being part of the diocese Kamerijk...	19	Aidis Kruopis Aidis Kruopis Aidis Kruopis is a professional Lithuanian road cyclist, currently riding for Landbouwkrediet.-Palmarès:200720082010...
Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen or Koolskamp Koerse is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Koolskamp , West Flanders, Belgium...		Koolskamp	Koolskamp		Leigh Howard Leigh Howard Leigh Howard is an Australian professional racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team .-Biography:Born in Geelong, Victoria, Howard now resides in Waurn Ponds. He began cycling competitively at the age of 10 and first represented Australia in 2005 at the age of 16.Howard won the bronze medal in the...