The races considered the ‘classics’ of cycling are the most prestigious single day pro road races on the international calendar. Most of the Belgian classics have been on the pro racing calendar for many decades with Paris-Roubaix in it's 107th edition this year. Two of the races, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are each considered on of the five "Monuments Of Cycling". Don’t miss our great coverage of the 2009 Classics season on roadbikeaction.com this March and April.

Saturday, March 28: 52nd E3-Prijs Harelbeke
The E3-Prijs Harelbeke, a semi-classic race which opens the weekend hostilities / festivities one week before the Ronde van Vlaanderen/Tour of Flanders. A 203km romp across many of the same "hellingen" (hills in Flemish) as Flanders, the race was named after the E3 Highway, one of the first to open 52nd E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, whose completion it was meant to celebrate back in 1957. Tom Boonen won E3-Prijs Harelbeke four years in a row, from 2004-2007. 2008 Winner: Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) CSC Saxo Bank

Sunday, March 29: 49th Brabantse Pijl / La Flèche Brabançonne
The 49th Brabantse Pijl / La Flèche Brabançonne, run over 193.3km from the famous university town of Leuven, east of Brussels and heads southwest across the Brabant region, traversing the provinces of Brabant-Wallon (French) to Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish). After 50km, the climbing begins on the hills south of Brussels, and after 110km, there are five circuits of 16.8km, with two "hellingen; Bruineput and Lindenberg (about 12km in to the loop) with the finish on the Alsemberg  climb. 2005-06-07 Winner: Oscar Freire 2008 Winner: Sylvain Chavanel

Tuesday, March 31-Thursday, April 2: KBC-Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde / Three Days of de Panne
A tough three day / four stage race that offers a final tune-up for the Tour of Flanders, run on flat terrain in west Flanders near the North Sea coast. There are three point to point stages and a short final ITT which is usually crucial to the race outcome. 2008 winner Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) took the ITT win and captured the overall gc.

Sunday, April 5: 93rd Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour of Flanders
The Ronde van Vlaanderen, called the Tour of Flanders in english is one of the five Monuments of Cycling. For a Belgian rider, the Ronde is the most important race to win, period. Three time Flanders winner Johan Museeuw once said "As a Belgian, winning Flanders for the first time is far more important than wearing the maillot jaune in the Tour". Nicknamed "Vlaanderens Mooiste" (Flanders finest), with more than one million spectators along the course in cycling-mad Belgium, it is truly one of the most exciting, dramatic and emotional races in the world. Starting in the picturesque Grote Markt in Bruges, the race heads south then turns inland for the hills of the so-called Flemish alps. There are 17 short, steep hills "hellingen" (hills in Flemish)  in the Tour of Flanders; Kluisberg, Nokereberg, Molenberg, Wolvenberg, Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg, Berg Ter Stene, Leberg, Berendries, Valkenberg, Tenbosse, Eikenmolen, Muur-Kapelmuur and Bosberg before the finish in Meerbeke after 256km of great racing. 2008 winner: Stijn Devolder

Wednesday, April 8: 71st Gent-Wevelgem
The mid-week monster, a 208km super semi-classic from Gent to Wevelgem via the crazy cobbled Kemmelberg climb that is scaled twice around mid-race. Riders who blew it in the Tour of Flanders or riders who want a last-minute tune-up before Paris-Roubaix will be looking for a win at this race. 2008 winner: Oscar Freire

Sunday, April 12: 107th Paris-Roubaix
Once again, Paris-Roubaix, the Queen of the Classics will be run on Easter Sunday, the 107th edition of this incredible race, the oldest race among the Cycling Monuments. The race called "Hell of the North" starts in the Place du Palais of Compiègne, north of Paris and finishes on the velodrome in the grimy northern city of Roubaix. Paris-Roubaix is hellish for it's incredibly difficult 259.5km course, with 52.8km of pavé (cobblestone) over brutal 28 sectors. 2008 winner: Fabian Cancellara

April 15: 97th Scheldeprijs
The final race among the coreBelgian classics, Scheldeprijs starts in Antwerp, then through the start finish area in Schoten and then commences a large 150km circuit loop, north up to the Netherlands and then back west towards Antwerp and back to Schoten for three three final 16km circuits that finish on the Paalstraat. 2008 winner: Mark Cavendish

Next: The Hilly Classics: Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone, Liege-Bastogne-Liege