Ready, set, race! Mark these days and prep your TV to follow this season's classics.
Buckle up, get your bikes out of their garages if you haven't done so yet, and hop on your saddles again. And in front of your TVs too, after all cycling season is back and our beloved spring classics are just around the corner.
One week from now, the first major UCI competition will kick of this year's round of races and with a few shooting stars and young talents to watch it might be an especially interesting season. To ensure that none of us miss a single one of the captivating races and important competitions, we at buycycle have curated the perfect race calendar for you – including dates, significance and some predicted favourites...
🏔️
Le Strade Bianche
When: 02.03.2024
What: We've been waiting for this one... The Strade Bianche marks the inofficial grand debut of the UCI World Tour and is an absolute gravel classic. The pro teams will conquer the white gravel roads of beautiful Tuscany, a distinct feature of the event. Favorites this year include, without much surprise, Alaphilippe and Pogačar, as well as Kopecky and Vollering for the women's race.
Where: Siena, Italy - Siena, Italy
Live TV Coverage: Eurosport/Discovery +
When: 02.03.2024
What: We've been waiting for this one... The Strade Bianche marks the inofficial grand debut of the UCI World Tour and is an absolute gravel classic. The pro teams will conquer the white gravel roads of beautiful Tuscany, a distinct feature of the event. Favorites this year include, without much surprise, Alaphilippe and Pogačar, as well as Kopecky and Vollering for the women's race.
Where: Siena, Italy - Siena, Italy
Live TV Coverage: Eurosport/Discovery +
🎢
Milan - San Remo
When: 16.03.2024
What: The race of San Remo, lovingly dubbed as the "Classicissima" is one of the five monuments of cycling and not to be missed. Ever since 1907 it takes place on a late Saturday in March in Northern Italy. Not only does it cover the longest distance among the UCI one day races, it is also one of the most difficult ones to win, due to its very varied and challenging route. Mathieu van der Poel won last year's edition, but bets are high on Alexander Kristoff and Arnaud Démarre for this year's round...
Where: Milan, Italy - San Remo, Italy
Live TV coverage: Eurosport/Discovery +
When: 16.03.2024
What: The race of San Remo, lovingly dubbed as the "Classicissima" is one of the five monuments of cycling and not to be missed. Ever since 1907 it takes place on a late Saturday in March in Northern Italy. Not only does it cover the longest distance among the UCI one day races, it is also one of the most difficult ones to win, due to its very varied and challenging route. Mathieu van der Poel won last year's edition, but bets are high on Alexander Kristoff and Arnaud Démarre for this year's round...
Where: Milan, Italy - San Remo, Italy
Live TV coverage: Eurosport/Discovery +
🌄
Volta a Catalunya
When : 18.03.2024 - 24.03.2024
Was: This seven day stage race has been leading the world's best cyclists over 1000km from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Barcelona since 1911 – marking it as the fourth-oldest race of the UCI calendar. The program includes three challenging climbs, but sprinters and puncheurs will also get a taste on the seven stages. As for our favorites this year? Enric Mas, Lenny Martinez and Mikel Landa are definitely among them...
Where: Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain - Barcelona, Spain
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When : 18.03.2024 - 24.03.2024
Was: This seven day stage race has been leading the world's best cyclists over 1000km from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Barcelona since 1911 – marking it as the fourth-oldest race of the UCI calendar. The program includes three challenging climbs, but sprinters and puncheurs will also get a taste on the seven stages. As for our favorites this year? Enric Mas, Lenny Martinez and Mikel Landa are definitely among them...
Where: Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain - Barcelona, Spain
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
🚴🏽
Ronde van Vlaanderen
When: 31.03.2024
What: The Tour of Flanders is an internationally renowned cycling race, the second of the five monuments and a popular festival event for all of Belgium. Think beer, fries, music and flemish festivities everywhere. This year's race will start in Antwerp again and lead men and women alike on a varied route, which is characterized above all by many small mountain climbs and winding cobblestone roads (so-called Hellinge) – perfect for talented climbers such as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Matej Mohorič, Marianne Vos, Elisa Longo Borghini and Ellen van Dijk. The day before the official race, a race for amateurs, open to anyone, takes place on the key sections of the Ronde – so if you want to try your hand at the famous Hellingen, off to Antwerp!
Where: Antwerp, Belgium - Oudenaarde, Belgium
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When: 31.03.2024
What: The Tour of Flanders is an internationally renowned cycling race, the second of the five monuments and a popular festival event for all of Belgium. Think beer, fries, music and flemish festivities everywhere. This year's race will start in Antwerp again and lead men and women alike on a varied route, which is characterized above all by many small mountain climbs and winding cobblestone roads (so-called Hellinge) – perfect for talented climbers such as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Matej Mohorič, Marianne Vos, Elisa Longo Borghini and Ellen van Dijk. The day before the official race, a race for amateurs, open to anyone, takes place on the key sections of the Ronde – so if you want to try your hand at the famous Hellingen, off to Antwerp!
Where: Antwerp, Belgium - Oudenaarde, Belgium
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
🥐
Paris - Roubaix
When: 06.04.2024 (women) & 07.04.2024 (men)
What: It's L'Enfer du Nord, it's the cobbled nightmare, the third monument and maybe the most thrilling races of them all: Paris-Roubaix. Many of the most talented riders have landed in hospital and not on the podium after taking part in this spring classic as it is one of the most challenging and brutal competitions out there... Riders face dirt, dust and mud along the route and will have to fight their way through. If you ask us, Elisa Longo Borghini, Ellen van Dijk and Edvald Boasson Hagen and John Degenkolb are the ones to watch for this year's edition.
Where: Compiègne, France - Roubaix, France (men), Denain, France - Roubaix, France (women)
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When: 06.04.2024 (women) & 07.04.2024 (men)
What: It's L'Enfer du Nord, it's the cobbled nightmare, the third monument and maybe the most thrilling races of them all: Paris-Roubaix. Many of the most talented riders have landed in hospital and not on the podium after taking part in this spring classic as it is one of the most challenging and brutal competitions out there... Riders face dirt, dust and mud along the route and will have to fight their way through. If you ask us, Elisa Longo Borghini, Ellen van Dijk and Edvald Boasson Hagen and John Degenkolb are the ones to watch for this year's edition.
Where: Compiègne, France - Roubaix, France (men), Denain, France - Roubaix, France (women)
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
🚵🏽
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
When: 21.04.2024
What: The topographically very demanding one day race celebrates its 110th edition this year. It goes from Liège via Bastogne and back again. What makes the route so special are the countless short, steep climbs - more than 4,200 meters in altitude have to be conquered, but the changeable weather conditions in April also pose a challenge. The fourth monument race is a real veteran, it has been held since 1892 and is therefore nicknamed the "Doyenne" (the oldest).
Where: Liège, Belgium - Liège, Belgium
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When: 21.04.2024
What: The topographically very demanding one day race celebrates its 110th edition this year. It goes from Liège via Bastogne and back again. What makes the route so special are the countless short, steep climbs - more than 4,200 meters in altitude have to be conquered, but the changeable weather conditions in April also pose a challenge. The fourth monument race is a real veteran, it has been held since 1892 and is therefore nicknamed the "Doyenne" (the oldest).
Where: Liège, Belgium - Liège, Belgium
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
🇮🇹
Giro d'Italia
When: 04.05.2024 - 24.05.2024 (men), 07.07.2024 - 14.07.2024 (women)
What: All roads lead to Rome. This also applies to one of the most important international road races, the Italian pendant to the French Tour, the infamous Giro d'Italia. The world's second most important cycling race brings together the best of the best and during its 21 stages every type of rider gets a shot at their favourite discipline. Over a course of 3387km, individual time trials, sprint stages and mountain climbs are lined up against a breathtaking backdrop. One stage even follows the marble-like routes of the Strade Bianche...
Where: Venaria Reale, Italy - Rome, Italy (men), Brescia, Italy - L'Aquila, Italy (women)
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When: 04.05.2024 - 24.05.2024 (men), 07.07.2024 - 14.07.2024 (women)
What: All roads lead to Rome. This also applies to one of the most important international road races, the Italian pendant to the French Tour, the infamous Giro d'Italia. The world's second most important cycling race brings together the best of the best and during its 21 stages every type of rider gets a shot at their favourite discipline. Over a course of 3387km, individual time trials, sprint stages and mountain climbs are lined up against a breathtaking backdrop. One stage even follows the marble-like routes of the Strade Bianche...
Where: Venaria Reale, Italy - Rome, Italy (men), Brescia, Italy - L'Aquila, Italy (women)
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
🇨🇭
Tour de Suisse
When: 09.06.2024 - 18.06.2024 (men), 15.06.2024 - 18.06.2024 (women)
What: Many riders use Switzerland's biggest cycling race as their final preparation for the Tour de France. The stage race has been taking place since 1933 and consists of several mountain stages and an individual time trial, taking the athletes through all parts of Switzerland over more than 1000km. A highlight of this year's men's race will definitely be the ascent up to Canard with its 22 tight curves that bear a pretty obvious resemblance to the infamous Alp d'Huez climb...
Where: Vaduz, Switzerland - St. Gallen, Switzerland (men), Villars-Sur-Ollon, Switzerland - Champagne, Switzerland (women)
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When: 09.06.2024 - 18.06.2024 (men), 15.06.2024 - 18.06.2024 (women)
What: Many riders use Switzerland's biggest cycling race as their final preparation for the Tour de France. The stage race has been taking place since 1933 and consists of several mountain stages and an individual time trial, taking the athletes through all parts of Switzerland over more than 1000km. A highlight of this year's men's race will definitely be the ascent up to Canard with its 22 tight curves that bear a pretty obvious resemblance to the infamous Alp d'Huez climb...
Where: Vaduz, Switzerland - St. Gallen, Switzerland (men), Villars-Sur-Ollon, Switzerland - Champagne, Switzerland (women)
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
🏆
Tour de France
When: 29.06.2024 - 21.07.2024 (men), 12.08.2024 - 18.08.2024 (women)
What: Do we really need to explain that one? The sovereign of all races, the most important date in your cycling calendar, the Tour de France. This year, the historic event celebrates its 111th anniversary and it will kick off in the marvellous city of Florence (Tuscany really is the region to watch when it comes to cycling this year...) with a first real challenge. Riders will have to conquer a whopping 3.600 in altitude, which is a record number in the Tour's long history. Further highlights of this year's 3492km route include some new gravel routes, dizzying mountain stages and the time trial in the very last stage of the men's tour... Another big highlight? Due to the Olympics that will take place in Paris, this year's Tour de France will conclude in Nice. Pack your bathing suits, Côte d'Azur, here we come...
And whoever misses the infamous Alp d'Huez in this year's men's route, do not worry. The women riders will conquer it as their final stage in the Tour de Femmes after starting their race in Rotterdam!
Where: Florence, Italy - Nice, France (men), Rotterdam, Netherlands - Alp d'Huez, France (women)
Live TV coverage: Find the complete list of channels on the official website of the TDF.
When: 29.06.2024 - 21.07.2024 (men), 12.08.2024 - 18.08.2024 (women)
What: Do we really need to explain that one? The sovereign of all races, the most important date in your cycling calendar, the Tour de France. This year, the historic event celebrates its 111th anniversary and it will kick off in the marvellous city of Florence (Tuscany really is the region to watch when it comes to cycling this year...) with a first real challenge. Riders will have to conquer a whopping 3.600 in altitude, which is a record number in the Tour's long history. Further highlights of this year's 3492km route include some new gravel routes, dizzying mountain stages and the time trial in the very last stage of the men's tour... Another big highlight? Due to the Olympics that will take place in Paris, this year's Tour de France will conclude in Nice. Pack your bathing suits, Côte d'Azur, here we come...
And whoever misses the infamous Alp d'Huez in this year's men's route, do not worry. The women riders will conquer it as their final stage in the Tour de Femmes after starting their race in Rotterdam!
Where: Florence, Italy - Nice, France (men), Rotterdam, Netherlands - Alp d'Huez, France (women)
Live TV coverage: Find the complete list of channels on the official website of the TDF.
🗺️
UCI Road World Championships
When: 21.09.2024 - 29.09.2024
What: The UCI World Championships in road and para cycling will take place in beautiful Zurich this year. Even though we're thrilled to witness those competitions unfold, we can't help but express a little disappointment that this year's edition will no longer follow the Glasgow way of combining all disciplines' world championships in one mega event...
Where: Zurich, Switzerland
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When: 21.09.2024 - 29.09.2024
What: The UCI World Championships in road and para cycling will take place in beautiful Zurich this year. Even though we're thrilled to witness those competitions unfold, we can't help but express a little disappointment that this year's edition will no longer follow the Glasgow way of combining all disciplines' world championships in one mega event...
Where: Zurich, Switzerland
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
🇪🇸
Vuelta a Espagna
When: 17.08.2024 - 08.09.2024 (men), 29.04.2024 - 07.05.2024 (women)
What: Alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, the Vuelta is the third and final Grand Tour. For the great cycling veterans, it heralds the end of the season, for many young athletes it is the first three-week tour of their career and is used as an entry-level opportunity, as the media presence is lower than in the other Grands Tours. 2024 this iconic race will lead riders over 3265km and in 21 stages from Lisbon (an exception in this "Tour of Spain") to a final time trial stage in Madrid (for the men). The men's route includes one less mountain stage than last year, but the Vuelta keeps its tradition of being a race that's especially thrilling for climbers...
Where: Lisbon, Portugal - Madrid, Spain
Live TV coverage: Find a livestream on the Vuelta's Website.
When: 17.08.2024 - 08.09.2024 (men), 29.04.2024 - 07.05.2024 (women)
What: Alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, the Vuelta is the third and final Grand Tour. For the great cycling veterans, it heralds the end of the season, for many young athletes it is the first three-week tour of their career and is used as an entry-level opportunity, as the media presence is lower than in the other Grands Tours. 2024 this iconic race will lead riders over 3265km and in 21 stages from Lisbon (an exception in this "Tour of Spain") to a final time trial stage in Madrid (for the men). The men's route includes one less mountain stage than last year, but the Vuelta keeps its tradition of being a race that's especially thrilling for climbers...
Where: Lisbon, Portugal - Madrid, Spain
Live TV coverage: Find a livestream on the Vuelta's Website.
🎇
Il Lombardia
When: 12.10.2024
What: "Il Lombardia" is number five of the most important one-day bike races. Since 2014, the race has traditionally started in Como or Bergamo and the finals also take place there. Even if the route is a little surprise every year, the climb to the picturesque little church of Madonna del Ghisallo is an integral part of the Tour of Lombardy. As one of the last races of the season, it is also known as the race of the falling leaves. In 2024, the athletes will start and finish near Como.
Where: Como, Italy
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
When: 12.10.2024
What: "Il Lombardia" is number five of the most important one-day bike races. Since 2014, the race has traditionally started in Como or Bergamo and the finals also take place there. Even if the route is a little surprise every year, the climb to the picturesque little church of Madonna del Ghisallo is an integral part of the Tour of Lombardy. As one of the last races of the season, it is also known as the race of the falling leaves. In 2024, the athletes will start and finish near Como.
Where: Como, Italy
Live TV coverage: Eurosport
These of course are only a selection of this season's many races – after all the UCI's calendar includes more than 38 events and races, so there's always room for some more thrill to follow on TV... But whether you'll spend parts of your spring and summer watching these races, maybe even participating in some (amateur versions) of them or whether you're just really excited to grab your favorite cycling buddies and spend endless days cruising, gravelling, shredding and racing around on your bike... We at buycycle wish you the utmost fun with it and are looking forward to another amazing cycling season!
PS: If you need a new bike for that season... you know where to find it. Check out buycycle.com and the thousands of top-tier road, gravel and mountain bikes on our platform or head to our sell page to give your old ride a second life. Our blog has got your back regarding questions around bikes, races or cycling in general and our team is always here for you too. In the meantime, we wish you, as always: Happy browsing, happy cycling!