So another year has nearly ended, and the next is quickly approaching - which means that it's time to have a look at the UCI WorldTour calendar for the men for 2016, and the key dates. If you read the other blog posts then you'll have already seen the posts for Tour de France and the Giro, and there will be a post for the Vuelta as soon as the route is announced.
There are 27 races in the men's WorldTour (UWT) next season, stretching from the 19th January to the 1st October and only three months of the whole year (February, November and December) where there isn't a UWT event (though fear not, if you feel that's just too many months without any cycling going on - there are other events on in February so you'll only have the withdrawal symptoms for a couple of months at the end of the year!!!
January
As always the Santos Tour Down Under kicks off the year between the 19th and 24th January, just in time for the post Christmas and New Year blues to be kicking in, and the resolutions wearing off - so additional motivation to get out of the bike or cross training for the winter months, because if the pros can manage to look like that less than a month after stuffing themselves on the 25th December then there should be hope for the rest of us to manage to fit in the new pair of trousers we picked up in the January sales!
March
It's classics season! Paris - Nice, Tirreno - Adriatico, Milan - San Remo to name a few. This is the time of year when the tough men who love the one day races come out and play, usually those who don't have an eye on any of the Grand Tours later in the year but each time there is usually a couple who want to broaden the CVs. Expect the unexpected, assume it will be cold and wet, and hope for some superb racing!
April
The second month of classics, and the month of The Hell of the North (aka Paris - Roubaix). On a good day the cobbles create a dust cloud and crashes, on a bad day the cobbles create a mudbath and crashes. Other choice races in the month are the Amstel Gold, and Liege - Bastogne - Liege.
May
Giro!! 6 - 29th May. Check out more details on the first Grand Tour of the year here.
June
Only a couple of races on the UWT this month, the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse. Both of these are the final preparation for the main contenders of the Tour de France, although if previous years are anything to go by expect to see the winner come from the Dauphiné. Speaking from personal experience the Swiss put on a show, and it's really easy to get to all the start/finishes by public transport so if you've never seen an event on the continent then this is a good one to start with.
July
Need I say more? The Tour of Poland also takes part in July, but unfortunately always plays second fiddle to the French version. The San Sebastian Classic rounds of the month, and is a good place for those who have had a poor Tour, or were never targeting the overall win to get a mid-season win under their belt.
August
Currently the dates for the Vuelta are the 20th August - 11th September, so this could be put into either or both month, but for ease of this we'll stick it in the month it starts... The final Grand Tour of the season, more details to follow when they are announced.
September
Canada month on the UWT, or at least the beginning of the month is - one day eventing in Quebec and Montreal. The month closes off with a return to Europe for the Eneco Tour between the 19th and 25th.
October
The final event to close off the season, Il Lombardia on the 1st of the month, so that technically pretty much makes it over three months until the start of the 2017 UCI WorldTour. Fear not though, we will be here throughout the pre-season, the whole of the season, and will do our best of bridge the gap into the following year and make sure you get your cycling fix!
All the details of the dates for the UWT season can be found here, on the UCI official website. Along with the details of the other categories that'll be on during the year.
Keep your eyes peeled on here for more details on the Women's WorldTour, and further info on many of the races this year - especially the Grand Tours.
Remember, Keep 'em Spinning!
One Life - Live It, Love It.
