The 6th Monument

[Anonymous]

This was touched on in the Tour Down Under thread, (so before the TDU thread becomes too sidetracked).

Which, if any would you make the 6th Monument.

For me, in the future, Strade Bianchi. I think it is different enough from the other 5 to one day become a monument. And has enough character to stand out on its own as a special race. It has the character or Roubaix and Flanders, but the unique white roads. Probably 10 or 20 years away from that sort of status though.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

F-W is the only one that pops to mind.

Has the prestige +70 years
Has an excellent course.
Exciting finish.

For me, in the future, Strade Bianchi. I think it is different enough from the other 5 to one day become a monument. And has enough character to stand out on its own as a special race. If not, Fleche Wallone.

monuments aren't just about the course, prestige and history is what makes these monuments special. Comeback in 50+ years with the S-B monument.

 

[The Hitch]

F-W is the only one that pops to mind.

Belgium have enough monuments id say.

 

[Anonymous]

My only argument against FW is that there is already an ardennes monument. In my mind each of the monuments should offer something uniquely different.

 

[Mambo95]

I tend to think of Amstel Gold as unofficial sixth monument anyway.

 

[hrotha]

I voted F-W but I'd actually keep the monuments as they are and also I'd learn to read polls in full before voting.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I voted F-W but I'd actually keep the monuments as they are and also I'd learn to read polls in full before voting.

This for me also.

5 is perfect, adding more takes something special away imo.

F-W is the best option imo, but I wouldn't want it promoted.

 

[roundabout]

Paris Tours. First race in 1896 and 104 editions in total

 

[Marcus135]

Keep it at 5, thats a good number

 

[Ferminal]

San Seb > MSB

 

[Benotti69]

5 monuments are enough. Adding more dilutes the idea of a monument in my opinon.

 

[Jamsque]

San Seb and F-W are the only too with enough history to class as monuments, and I think F-W is too much in the shadow of Liege.

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

If I had to add one, it would be Paris-Tours.
Exciting race, great history, epic battle versus sprinters / puncheurs. I understand that it is quite similar to Milan - San Remo, but for me a momument must have some real long history.
Fleche would also be a possibility.

 

[ingsve]

monuments aren't just about the course, prestige and history is what makes these monuments special. Comeback in 50+ years with the S-B monument.

Well, the pro race is new but the roads themselves has a lot of history from e.g. Gran Fondos which is part of the reason why the pro race has gotten such a quick rise in popularity and prestige.

 

[Lupetto]

F-W is the only one that pops to mind.

Has the prestige +70 years
Has an excellent course.
Exciting finish..

FW is a race with 100 people going for an uphill sprint. The course was excellent 25 years ago with 240k to 250k and some intense climbs before the final. Racing started earlier, today everybody sits and waits for Huy.

 

[theyoungest]

Well, the pro race is new but the roads themselves has a lot of history from e.g. Gran Fondos which is part of the reason why the pro race has gotten such a quick rise in popularity and prestige.

Define popularity and prestige... I can only speak about the Dutch public, but here the knowledge of this race, let alone its appreciation, is mostly restricted to cycling connaisseurs. From the races on this list it's probably the farthest removed from Monument status.

 

[ttrider]

FW is a race with 100 people going for an uphill sprint. The course was excellent 25 years ago with 240k to 250k and some intense climbs before the final. Racing started earlier, today everybody sits and waits for Huy.

Yeah but thats just modern cycling in general, the last climb is generally everything for the favorites like it or not, only 2 gt stages and one classic in my opinion saw proper favorites attack on the penultimate climb, LBL (Andy, Contador, Gilbert) and Mortirolo in the Giro (Basso, Nibali and Scarponi) as well as Gavia (Vino, Sastre). Its just the way it is now

 

[Parrulo]

the monuments are the monuments. i don't think people should play around with them. if we add one now in a few years everything will be a monument.

 

[skidmark]

the monuments are the monuments. i don't think people should play around with them. if we add one now in a few years everything will be a monument.

+1

Although I would have voted for the Tour of California if it were an option.

 

[Matthijs]

This was touched on in the Tour Down Under thread, (so before the TDU thread becomes too sidetracked).

Which, if any would you make the 6th Monument.

For me, in the future, Strade Bianchi. I think it is different enough from the other 5 to one day become a monument. And has enough character to stand out on its own as a special race. It has the character or Roubaix and Flanders, but the unique white roads. Probably 10 or 20 years away from that sort of status though.

Monument is of course first about history. Then prestige for the winner. Then length of parcour. Then parcour type itself.

4 Classics and semi-classics spring to mind:
Monte Passchi Eroica Strade Bianchi
Amstel Gold Race
Fleche Wallone
Paris-Tours

But I'll comment on some others too

Omloop het Nieuwsblad (1945) KBK (1945)
Not long enough, good race. Good position. Nice races, no real contender. If these races are added, why not Paris-Brussel for instance (since 1893) or Paris-Bourges (1913)

Monte Paschi Eroica Strade Bianchi (2007)
lacks history and prestige and I presume length. Needs first a stable name, better place on the calender so top-contenders pick this race. Ten years of toplevel classic-riders who win it and we can discuss this race again. But: unique parcours...

Gent-Wevelgem (1934)
Length is increasing, parcour is increasing, weekend position, toplevel winners in the past. Recent changes makes this race a contender for the 6th M I think. Problems: recent history not so good, sunday GW & saturday E3, still a little short in length.

Amstel Gold Race (1966)
Is closest to monument status because it's length. After the 5 monuments and the worlds the longest race of the year. A real classic right now, weekend position in calender, toplevel contenders from the beginning. Main problem is it started only around 45 years ago.

Fleche Wallone (1936)
Very old race, nice parcours with legendary finish and legendary winners. The MSR for climbers: nothing happens till the Poggio & sprint/Mur de Huy. Problems: length (only 200k) and calender position (wednesday).

San Sebastian (1981)
Good parcour, strange position which is only good in a Olympic year with the olympics in August. Originally preparation for the worlds, but nowadays good for Tour-de-France riders with some energy left. Problems: calender position, history (about 25 years If i'm right?) and maybe to similar too LBL and Lombardia

Paris-Tours (1896)
Nice spot on calender, good length, good history (even Merckx couldn't win it). Promotion of this race would be very good for the autumn: Worlds, PT, Lombardia in a row makes a strong group of races, the autumn classics vs. the spring

Conclusions
Gold Race best candidate, then Paris-Tours I think. Of course only Bordeaux Paris (1891) can be the 6th Monument.

 

[Matthijs]

San Seb and F-W are the only too with enough history to class as monuments, and I think F-W is too much in the shadow of Liege.

Maybe Wikipedia is wrong, but I live with the idea San sebastian is a relatively new race.

 

[Christophe]

I still think of F-W as a warmup race for L-B-L. It's a classic for sure, but really, 5 monuments is enough.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

100 years or so of modern racing history in regards to the Monuments says,,, it'll never happen!!!

 

[ak-zaaf]

I still think of F-W as a warmup race for L-B-L. It's a classic for sure, but really, 5 monuments is enough.

200km for an uphill bunch sprint everybody waits for every year. I really don't get the love. They should put the finish 1 or 2 km after Huy IMO.
It was better when it was on the saturday before LBL (as the warm-up race it will always be) and they gave the 2 races an overall classification.

I voted none becase only Paris - Tours would qualify. (length, age, palmares)

FW is too short (as are most options) and on a weekday, AGR is too young, the rest doesn't even come close.

 

[ak-zaaf]

San Seb and F-W are the only too with enough history to class as monuments, and I think F-W is too much in the shadow of Liege.

Eugene Prevost won the first Paris-Tours in 1896. FW is from the 1930's, San Sebastian is from the 1980's.