The most important reasons, why it will be worth watching the one-day races during March and April.
Big favourites in new teams
Several still active Monument winners changed their kit in 2020. Vincenzo Nibali rides for the Trek-Segafredo, Philippe Gilbert and John Degenkolb moved to the Lotto-Soudal, Dan Martin is a member of the Israel Start Up Nation now, while Wout Poels and Mark Cavendish became riders of the Bahrain-McLaren team.
Besides them, there are other important riders of the spring classics peloton riding in a new team this year. Lotto-Soudal not only won two highly valuable classic specialists but also lost another two: Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) and Jens Keukeleire (EF), not to mention the irreparable loss of Bjorg Lambrecht, who rode a very impressive spring season but lost his life during the Tour de Pologne in August last year.
Also, Matteo Trentin moved from the Mitchelton-Scott to the CCC.
Except for Cavendish’s case (because he is unfortunately no longer on the level he used to be), these are significant changes in the international peloton, which can cause exciting race situations in the upcoming months.
The shining of the rainbow jersey
The breakthrough year of Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) was 2018 when he finished Ronde van Vlaanderen on 2nd place and had several other good results. Last year’s spring season wasn’t so successful for him, but he managed to gain the biggest victory of his career in September: he became World Champion in Harrogate.
Therefore, Pedersen wears the rainbow jersey this year, which can be a blessing and a curse at the very same time, as Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) could say about it a lot after wearing the kit for three seasons. But not only because of the rainbow jersey we should pay attention to the Danish rider. Pedersen is a big talent, he is worth being watched in any kind of jersey.
A historical spring?
There were only three riders in the history of road cycling, who won all the five Monuments at least at once: Rick Van Loy, Roger De Vlaeminck and Eddy Merckx. Philippe Gilbert is only one step apart from joining this company. The only missing piece is Milano-Sanremo. It would be definitely a historical moment seeing Gilbert triumphing on the Via Roma.
The Sagan-factor
Is he still among the top one-day specialist? Or the last chapter (I wouldn’t like to say the decline) of his career has already begun? His performance doesn’t seem to be convincing anymore, although he has some good moments in last season too. From this point of view, it will be probably an important season for him.
Mathieu Van der Poel in the Hell (of the North)
We’ve already seen him at several one-day races last year. His Amstel Gold Race triumph is unforgettable, he rode a sensational Ronde van Vlaanderen despite of crashes and became 4th at the end. He also won GP Deanin, Dwars door Vlaanderen and Brabantse Pijl. But he is still waiting for his Paris-Roubaix debut, which will be a hell of a ride, for sure. According to the latest information, he will ride almost the entire program of spring classic races from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to La Fleche Wallonne, including Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris Roubaix.
Just enjoy the races
Real spring classics fans don’t need any special reason to follow the events, they would watch them anyway. Do the same! It will be fun. I promise.
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