But why is such an extraordinary fan moment created in the classics of all places? This is partly due to the historical and cultural significance of the monuments and cycling in France and Belgium. Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the oldest monument and was held for the first time in 1892. And the "youngest" classic, the Tour of Flanders, also has a history of over 100 years with its first edition in 1913 and many iconic cycling moments.
And yet the five classics have their very own character. The "pavés" at Paris-Roubaix are as notorious as their conquerors Roger De Vlaeminck or Tom Boonen, who won the monument four times. In the Tour of Flanders, the riders have to master many short, steep climbs on cobblestones, such as the Paterberg. At around 300 kilometres, Milan-Sanremo is the longest professional one-day race. In contrast to the Ronde, the climbs in the Tour of Lombardy are very long, which makes this classic race ideal for climbers. Liège-Bastogne-Liège is characterised by its many adrenaline-fuelled climbs and is usually decided by well-timed attacks.
Exceptional fan atmosphere at the classics
What unites these prestigious one-day races? The atmosphere at the roadside. The Ronde is often referred to as an unofficial holiday, according to which the local people plan their day. Paris-Roubaix attracts tens of thousands of people to the roadside, who cheer loudly for the riders in the Hell of the North, creating a kind of festival atmosphere. This also prevails at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, especially on legendary climbs such as the Côte de la Redoute. The Italian classics Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Lombardy create an emotional atmosphere simply because they are scheduled at the beginning and end of the season.
Thanks to just a few barriers, fans are closer to the route than at any other race, can (almost) touch the riders and feel the effort. Children play at the side of the road, teenagers climb the climbs before the pros and the adults barbecue, drink and cheer loudly. The closeness of the fans gives the monuments a very special character that is not found in other races. In order to maintain this closeness, it is important that fans respect the riders and do not physically interfere with the race. Unfortunately, this does happen from time to time...
Falls caused by fans?
In recent years, crashes caused by fans have been exploited by the media, leading to several debates on the subject - and rightly so. Some spectators misjudge the risk of accidents for riders and themselves caused by taking a quick selfie or holding up a sign. This could lead to the assumption that such crashes happen all the time, especially in the classics. However, the reality is somewhat different. The last crash caused by a fan at one of the five monuments was at the Tour of Flanders in 2024. Although there have been other interactions between riders and fans since then, there have been no documented crashes. However, the risk remains high due to the close proximity, which is why all spectators must be aware of their responsibility.
Lukas Niebuhr
Working student
