Pro Cyclists to Watch in This Year’s Spring Classics

Written by
Marc Lindsay
For fans of professional cycling, that one Tour in July isn’t the only race of the year that’s must-see TV.

From Milan-San Remo to Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the cobbled classics in between, check out the pre-race favorites to capture the top step of the podium in this year’s spring classics.
Alexander Kristoff
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Though the Norwegian didn't come away with any big wins in 2016, Kristoff (Katusha) has won big races before and the smart bet is he'll do it again. Kristoff possesses a distinct combination of skills, allowing him to hang with the lead pack on short, punchy climbs and sprint at an elite level after a tough day on the bike. When he's on form, he's tough to beat when the finish comes down to a group sprint.

Previous wins: 2014 Milan-San Remo, 2015 Tour of Flanders
Best bet to win: Milan-San Remo
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John Degenkolb
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With 10 stage victories in the Vuelta a Espana, Degenkolb (Trek) is more of a true sprinter than a classics specialist. But when he is able to stay with the pack, which he's proven he's capable of doing, there are only a handful of other cyclists that are capable of handling his top-end speed.

Previous wins: 2015 Milan-San Remo, 2015 Paris Roubaix
Best bet to win: Milan-San Remo
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Peter Sagan
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If there's one rider who might be able to fill the big shoes left behind by retired classics legend Fabian Cancellara, it's Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe). The young Slovakian has already captured multiple green jerseys at the Tour de France, is the defending two-time World Champion, and got his first victory at a classics monument last year. With his confidence and form at an all-time high, there's reason to believe Sagan might be able to do something special in 2017.

Previous wins: 2016 Tour of Flanders, World Championships (2015 and 2016)
Best bet to win: Tour of Flanders, Paris Roubaix
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Mark Cavendish
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A true legend of the sport, Cavendish (Dimension Data) is one rider who has nothing left to prove. While he's better known for his number of Grand Tour stage victories (48), Cavendish is more than capable of winning one of the spring classics again. Look for him to make another run at a Milan-San Remo victory before all is said and done.

Previous wins: 2009 Milan-San Remo
Best bet to win: Milan-San Remo
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Greg Van Avermaet
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Though Van Avermaet (BMC) has the talent to be the next great Belgian champion, luck has not been on his side. With top-five finishes in Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, and Paris Roubaix, look for Van Avermaet to do his best to get over the hump in 2017 and challenge for victories at multiple races—especially if he's on form and injury-free.

Previous wins: 2016 Olympic Road Race Gold Medal, 2015 Paris Roubaix (3rd) 2015 Tour of Flanders (3rd)
Best bet to win: Paris Roubaix
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Sep Vanmarcke
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Best known for being outsprinted by Fabian Cancellara inside the velodrome at Paris Roubaix in 2013, Vanmarcke (Cannondale) is another young rider looking for his first overall victory in one of this year's big spring races. Vanmarcke's aggressive riding style and pure strength will make him tough to deal with in the cobbled classics, particularly if weather conditions take a turn for the worse.

Previous wins: 2013 Paris Roubaix (2nd), 2016 Tour of Flanders (3rd)
Best bet to win: Tour of Flanders
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Tom Boonen
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When you're one of the best classics riders of all time, you've always got a shot. Though Boonen (Quick-Step) is past his prime, he could very well still have another win or two in his jersey pocket. What he lacks in top-end speed and power, he makes up for in his ability to read other riders, be patient and pick the right moment to make a move. Above all else Boonen knows how to win, and this could very well be his last best shot at climbing on the top step of the podium.

Previous wins: Paris Roubaix ('05, '08, '09, '12), Tour of Flanders ('05, '06, '12)
Best bet to win: Paris Roubaix, Tour of Flanders
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Julian Alaphilippe
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If you're looking for an underdog, Alaphilippe (Quick-Step) is as good a pick as any. While he is young and relatively new to the professional peloton, the Frenchman has shown he isn't afraid to mix it up on the world's biggest stage with multiple podium finishes in La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Alaphilippe is still probably a few years away from becoming a true favorite of the spring classics, but don't be surprised if a win happens sooner rather than later.

Previous wins: 2015 & 2016 La Fleche Wallone (2nd), 2015 Liege-Bastogne-Liege (2nd)
Best bet to win: Liege-Bastogne-Liege
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The Field
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Unlike some of the Grand Tour events, what makes the spring classics special is that anything can happen. While the favorites will get their fair share of victories, a surprise is sure to be in the cards, too. Here are a few names that shouldn't be overlooked:

Milan-San Remo: Fernando Gaviria, Arnaud Demare, Nacer Bouhanni, Michael Matthews
Tour of Flanders: Zdenek Stybar, Niki Terpstra, Michal Kwiatkowski, Geraint Thomas
Paris Roubaix: Zdenek Stybar, Ian Stannard, Niki Terpstra, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Tony
Martin Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Alejandro Valverde, Daniel Martin, Wout Poels, Simon Gerrans
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