Should Strade Bianche be considered a Monument?

So, should Strade Bianche be considered a Monument?

No.

Thanks for reading, see you soon.

Still here? Then I guess I’d better elaborate.

There are five so-called ‘Monuments’ in men’s pro cycling; Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia.

Why those five? Nobody can really tell you, or indeed even when the term Monument was first used, but there are two things that they all have in common - a long history (between 111 and 132 years in 2024), and a lengthy parcours that tends to be around 250km or more.

They are also considered to be the five most prestigious one-day races in cycling, but only since last year has this been recognised by the UCI. In 2022, for example, Benoît Cosnefroy received the same 500 UCI points for winning the GP Québec as Mathieu van der Poel did for winning the Tour of Flanders (otherwise known as De Ronde van Vlaanderen). No disrespect to the GP Québec, but I know which race every pro rider would prefer on their palmarès.

However, whilst the UCI have now placed more importance on the five biggest one-day races in terms of points allocation (800 from 2023 vs 500 before), there is no mention of the word ‘Monument’ anywhere in their rules. That’s according to our stats guru Cillian Kelly, blame him if it’s wrong.

Read more: Stat Attack: Is Il Lombardia the worst of cycling’s Monuments?

Also of note is that, despite receiving an upgrade itself last year, the winner of the 2024 men’s Strade Bianche will only receive 400 UCI points. So by the governing body’s own categorisation, it sits below the likes of the GP de Québec, GP Montréal and Gent-Wevelgem, which will all score you 500 points for the win.

So why is there so much discussion around Strade Bianche being considered the sixth Monument? Well, it has most of the key ingredients, exactly what those ingredients are is anyone’s guess, but it’s quickly captured the imaginations of cycling fans, new and old, around the world. The gravel was, and is, a novelty, and as the years pass by, the roll of honour is increasingly becoming a who’s who of modern greats. Riders want to do it, fans want to watch it.

Read more: Making Strade Bianche a Monument would be 'big error' says former winner Gilbert

Further to that, I will admit I played a small part in pushing the narrative. This goes back to my result in 2009 (did I ever tell you I finished ninth?) and the prospect of being able to say that I had a top-10 finish at a Monument in my career.

“But it wasn’t a Monument when you rode it!” I can hear both of you still reading shout aloud. Well, neither was Milan-San Remo the seven times Eddy Merckx won it, or any of the other big one-days, so on that basis, we all (unless you’re reading this Mathieu) have something in common with Merckx: NONE of us have won a Monument.

For some of my colleagues, the mere fact that I HAVE had a decent result in the race is enough reason for it never to become cycling’s sixth Monument.

I should point out that my argument for calling Strade Bianche a Monument was always done with tongue firmly in cheek. The level of the start list now is far superior to my day, and it’s raced completely differently - the attacks come earlier, and the average speed is higher. Were I able to plonk my 2009 self into this year’s edition, I’d probably finish no better than 10th, sandwiched between a Kasper Asgreen and a Matej Mohorič or similar (I jest, I’d be nowhere near).

Read more: 2024 men's Strade Bianche preview

There are two key arguments for why Strade Bianche shouldn’t be called a Monument.

1. Its short history (2024 will be the 18th men’s edition)
2. Its distance, or lack thereof

But that is why this subject has reemerged in recent weeks. When RCS Sport revealed the route for the 2024 men’s race, we found out that it would be over 200km for the first time in its history, 214km to be precise. Is that RCS trying to make their own case? Or are they simply meddling with the ingredients that have already proven to be a winning formula, hoping for an even tastier dish?

Who knows.

Read more: Strade Bianche route adds two new gravel sectors and increases men's distance to 215km

Going back to the original question, though, my actual answer is this: I don’t care. I suspect that is an opinion held by most of you reading this. Which begs the question, how on earth did you make it down this far? Ah, good skim reader, fair enough.

I will be glued to my screen on Saturday, just like hundreds of thousands of others, and that’s really all that matters. Strade Bianche is brutal, beautiful, dramatic, and above all, thoroughly entertaining. Let’s just enjoy it for what it is.

For all the important information about the 2024 Strade Bianche, be sure to check out our dedicated race hub.

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