This year, in an attempt to revitalise this challenge a little, there are a few changes that I'd like to try and implement... First of all, I think that we should expand the challenge to take in a few more of the one-day "semi-classics" and long established races.

So, with that, here's a few Dates for the Diary... These dates are possibly subject to change, but are as per the "Classics List" on www.steephill.tv.


Cycling Classics 2016:

Trofeo-Laigueglia - Sunday Feb 14
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - Saturday Feb 27
Kuurne-Brussels-Kurne - Sunday Feb 28
Le Samyn - Wednesday Mar 2
Strade Bianche - Saturday Mar 5
Milan-San Remo - Saturday Mar 19
Dwars door Vlaanderen - Wednesday Mar 23
E3 - Harelbeke - Friday Mar 25
Gent-Wevelgem - Sunday Mar 27
Ronde van Vlaanderen - Sunday Apr 3
Scheldeprijs - Wednesday Apr 6
Paris-Roubaix - Sunday Apr 10
De Brabantse Pijl - Wednesday Apr 13
Amstel Gold Apr - Sunday 17
Flèche Wallonne - Wednesday Apr 20
Liège-Bastogne-Liege - Sunday Apr 24

Break for Giro d'Italia Grand Tour Challenge - May 6 - May 21
Break continues for Tour de France Grand Toru Challenge - Jul 2- Jul 24

San Sebastian - Saturday Jul 30

Break for La Vuelta Espana Grand Tour Challenge - Aug 20 - Sep 11

** GP Ouest France ???
** GP Cycliste Québec Sep 9
** GP Cycliste Montreal Sep 11

Milano-Torino - Wednesday Sep 28
Il Lombardia - Saturday Oct 1
Paris-Tours - Sunday Oct 9


** Note - the three races marked are at this moment not scheduled for inclusion in the challenge - the 2 Canadian races, because of clashing with the closing week of the Vuelta Challenge, and teh GP Ouest France because i'm not sure WHAT the date will be at the moment. IF it doesn't clash with any of the Grand Tours then it will be slotted in as appropriate.

The more observant of you will have spotted that some of the races are in bold. These races are the ones that were in the Classics challenge last year, and are IMO the "true" classics. As such, they will be attracting a slightly higher points tarrif than the other "semi-classics"

Last year we had quite a few people comment that it was a shame that they had an event on the Saturday, and therefore wouldn't be adding anything to the Sunday where the race was being run. So, at the risk of making lots of extra work and hassle for myself in waiting around for the rides to get booked in, what I'm proposing is this...

For any of the races on a Weekend, you are allowed to book A SINGLE STRAVA LOGGED RIDE, from either the Saturday OR the Sunday. This of course doesn't apply for the Omloop/KBK weekend, as there is a race on Saturday and Sunday. As per last year, anyone who has entered any of the "pre-classic sportif rides" that are based around these classics (and generally are run in the couple of days prior to the actual race-day, over the same route on closed roads) gets to enter their ride from the sportif, provided photographic proof of competing in the sportif is added to the thread.
Off the top of my head, I think that this year the Paris-Roubaix and RVV both have sportives run the day before the race, though I'm happy to expand this to any other races that also have a pre-event sportif. (L'Eroica doesn't count, as it's at the other end of the summer to the Strade Bianche BTW )

For any of the Mid-Week Races, the ride has to be on the specific day of the race.

As to points scoring, again there's a small tweak, Book a single ride (if you commute take the long way home and book that one), recorded on Strava.

For the "True" classics, the BOLD ones in the list, points are awarded for the first 15 finishers as per last year...

Longest distance gets 25 points, next 20, then 16,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,and 1. Spot prizes / bonuses also awarded - these are announced before the event, and are usually either picture bonuses (get a point for a picture of a windmill or cobbles say on paris-roubaix day, or say a roadside chapel on Il Lombardia day.)



For the "Minor" classics, they will attract a lower points tarrif (and points only for the first 10 finishers)

Longest distance gets 20 points, next 16, then 12,10,8,6,4,3,2,and 1. Spot prizes / bonuses will not generally be awarded for these races.