Mountain Classics?

[ChristianHA]

Are there any real mountain classics in the cycling calendar? I find it strange that all the classics I know about is either flat, hilly or cobbled.
The only two I can think of is San Sebastian and Lombardia.

Is there any special reason for this?

 

[pmcg76]

There used to be the Classique des Alpes which lasted about 10 years, it always had a mountainous route in the Alpes but never was a 'classic' in the sense of Lombardy, L-B-L etc. It was more of a one day warm-up for the Dauphine

 

[hrotha]

There's some one-day mountain races in Spain, like the Urkiola Igoera* and the Subida al Naranco, but they're certainly not "classics".

*No race in 2010

 

[ChristianHA]

Maybe I need to rephrase that, one-day races with mountains in it. If you understand that Why is there for example a one day race with a finish on top of Ventoux, or Alp d'Huez?

 

[Jamsque]

Well, one-day races tend to want to finish in big towns for big crowds and big sponsor coverage.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Maybe I need to rephrase that, one-day races with mountains in it. If you understand that Why is there for example a one day race with a finish on top of Ventoux, or Alp d'Huez?

When the real classics had their first editions there weren't that many mountains that could be ridden. Let alone build a finish on top.

And the money thing of course. You don't want people waiting on a mountain the whole day. You want them were they can buy stuff while waiting.

Same with the worlds (entry fee or not), money is selling food and drinks and you won't sell al lot of that on a mountain slope.

 

[ChristianHA]

Thanks for the answers. So the answer is no, there aren't any one-day races with mountains in them?

 

[Fester]

Thanks for the answers. So the answer is no, there aren't any one-day races with mountains in them?

Vuelta la Rioja:

http://www.vueltalarioja.es/2010/recorrido/altimetria/

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Thanks for the answers. So the answer is no, there aren't any one-day races with mountains in them?

no there aren't

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

Thanks for the answers. So the answer is no, there aren't any one-day races with mountains in them?

There used to be one, at least two years ago, in the Basque Country. It was called the Klasika Urkiola. And it was classified as a mountain classic. Sadly I think it dissappeared.

 

[the3verB]

la classique des alpes was a mountain classic. a good race and the big names participated. Lance armstrong has finished two times on the podium.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

yes but none of thos were international big races although clasique des alpes came the closest. Ashame it disapeared

 

[icefire]

Jaizkibel is just 450 m and it would be a Cat2 climb on a stage race, so there's no need to have a big climb to have a good mountain 1-day race near a reasonably populated city.

The problem as I see it is that the calendar is full of races and there is no interest from sponsors, teams and riders to attend this kind of event and to develop this type of 1-day racing into a class of its own. I prefer watching a race like San Sebastián than a 1-week stage race with a MTF on top of Alpe d'Huez which is used as a warm up for something else.

 

[ChristianHA]

I see your points. But the Chamrousse would be ideal for this type of classic, Grenoble lies just of the foot of it.

 

[the3verB]

The problem as I see it is that the calendar is full of races and there is no interest from sponsors, teams and riders to attend this kind of event and to develop this type of 1-day racing into a class of its own. I prefer watching a race like San Sebastián than a 1-week stage race with a MTF on top of Alpe d'Huez which is used as a warm up for something else.

San sebastian is one of the most boring race of the year. usually the Jeizkibel is escamoté and it's a like barredo racer who win.

 

[sherer]

think icefire has hit the nail on the head. As well as the fact that when the classics started you couldn't ride the mountains anyway the only time you can ride them now is in the summer. The Tour is on then and none of the GC contendors would really push themselves for a mountain classic. Mayke it pre-tour and it is training. Make it post tour and no one shows up

 

[ChristianHA]

I guess you are right. But I think it would be nice if the climber had a monument as well.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

LBL and Lombardia are both monuments in which the climbers can play a significant part and often win...