Why Strade Bianche will never be a Monument

Strade Bianche, with its picturesque gravel roads winding through the beautiful landscapes of Tuscany, has quickly become one of the most popular races in cycling. Despite the mixed-terrain WorldTour race having captured the imagination of fans, riders, and professionals alike, the question looms: why won’t it ascend to the prestigious classification? Frankly, Strade Bianche will never be a Monument

The Monuments

Cycling’s Monuments, the five historic one-day races, namely Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and Il Lombardia, stand as revered pillars of the sport. Each has a storied history, tradition, and a sense of cultural significance that has solidified their places in the books of cycling history. While Strade Bianche is undeniably a captivating and challenging race, several factors contribute to it not being classified as a Monument.

One primary reason is the relatively short history of Strade Bianche compared to the Monuments. The race made its debut in 2007, a mere blink of an eye in comparison to the venerable histories of races like Paris-Roubaix, which dates back to 1896. Monuments have stood the test of time, witnessing generations of cyclists, historical events, and evolving cycling culture. The deep-rooted heritage of the Monuments contributes significantly to their esteemed status, making it challenging for newer races to immediately ascend to that level. Some of the most famous cyclists in history—from Fausto Coppi to Eddy Merckx—have won Monuments. That’s what makes winning one of them so special—your name is now listed beside some of the greats.

The legacy

Remember that scene in “Moneyball” when Brad Pitt, playing Oakland Athletics GM, Billy Beane, goes for the interview at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox? When the owner asks why he returned his call, he says, “because it’s the Sox.” Even when Pitt steps into Fenway, his eyes light up. Like the Yankees, the team is rooted in history and has a long legacy. (Yes, I know the Athletics began in Philadelphia and later Kansas, but the Oakland version has only been around since 1968. It’s sort of like how—Sure it’s cool, and an accomplishment to wear the yellow jersey at the now-defunct Tour of California—and sure there have been some big names there—it ain’t the maillot jaune of the Tour de France.

It’s not long enough

Another aspect contributing to the Monuments’ status is the arduous nature of the…