Paris-Roubaix, Tour of the Basque Country & Scheldeprijs all this week
Monday 4 April 2016 12:12, UK
Climbs and cobbled classics are both on the menu in what should be an exciting week of racing.
Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana are among the big names in action at the Tour of the Basque Country, while the classics continue with Scheldeprijs and then Paris-Roubaix.
Here's the schedule and what you need to know…
Tour of the Basque Country
When is it? Monday, April 4, to Saturday, April 9.
What is it? A mountainous, six-day stage race in northern Spain. This year it is made up of two summit finishes, three medium-mountain stages and a hilly time trial.
Who's riding? As well as Contador and Quintana, who are the favourites for victory, Mikel Landa, Joaquim Rodriguez, Fabio Aru and Thibaut Pinot are all taking part.
Which are the key stages? The summit finishes are on stages two and five, and then the time trial is on stage six.
What time do the stages take place? Roughly 12pm to 4pm each day (BST).
Scheldeprijs
When is it? Wednesday, April 6.
What is it? A cobbled but flat one-day classic in Belgium, usually won by sprinters. Alexander Kristoff is the defending champion.
Who's riding? Kristoff is back in search of a second successive victory but will face stiff competition from three-time winners Marcel Kittel and Mark Cavendish, as well as Elia Viviani, Peter Sagan and Andre Greipel.
What time does it take place? It starts at 11.15am and is scheduled to finish at about 4.15pm (BST).
Paris-Roubaix
When is it? Sunday, April 10.
What is it? Arguably the most legendary and prestigious one-day race in cycling, and the third of the year's five Monument classics. The 257.5km course is largely flat, but it contains 52.8km of bone-jarring cobbles split over 27 sectors ranging from 300m in length to 3.7km. It ends in the Roubaix velodrome and is usually won by classics specialists.
Who's riding? Last year's winner, John Degenkolb, is absent through injury, as is Greg Van Avermaet, but the rest of the best classics specialists in the world will all be on the start line. Among the favourites are Sagan, Fabian Cancellara, Kristoff, Ian Stannard, Sep Vanmarcke, Zdenek Stybar, Niki Terpstra and Edvald Boasson Hagen.
What time does it take place? It starts at 9.40am and is scheduled to finish at just before 4pm (BST).
