2013 Liège–Bastogne–Liège Route & Profile

Amstel Gold Race Route

2012: Another Tumultuous & Exciting Edition

The 2012 season will be defined by pictures of cyclists on the road as much as cyclists off the road. Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour de France, Alberto Contador made a winning return after his doping suspension, Philippe Gilbert won his maiden worlds rainbow jersey and Tom Boonen owned the cobbles. Yet for all the excitement and dominance of Team Sky plus individual and collective feats of the peloton, it was the USADA investigation into US Postal which lifted the lid on Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel as the masterminds behind the most organised doping practise the sport has ever seen. As the season comes to a close there are trails that seem only destined to be endlessly consumed with chasing the murky past down rabbit hole after rabbit hole. There has been no admission by Armstrong and the 1990s culture of Omerta has lessened but still exists among the peloton and with two major Italian investigations now looking like handing down their findings in 2013, this is certainly a tumultuous time for the sport. However there were brilliant rides full of bravery, panache and courage across the season. Looking back to the seasoning races in January of this year, it becomes apparent several of those rides will become timeless images of the sport, as well as part of cycling’s folklore for the years to come. 

Men's Road Race Starting List: 207 Riding for the Rainbow

Mark Cavendish will be wearing the number one dossard as he looks to defend his title. Cavendish is unlikely to go back to back with Belgian Phillipe Gilbert the number one favourite. Cavendish has said the course is too hard for a sprinter such as himself and a select group will most likely arrive at the finish together. That group looks like containing Gilbert, Simon Gerrans (Australia), Alejandro Valverde (Spain), Peter Sagan (Slovakia), Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) and a dark horse or two. Spain and Belgium have the strongest teams for the Road Race but Australia and Italy have the class to spring a surprise. For the smaller nations, it will be hard to work against 9 man teams but there is always the possibility of a two or three man team benefiting from trade team allegiances or simply being opportunistic at the right time.

2012 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian Start list

Defending champion Philippe Gilbert has decided to skip the 2012 edition of the 2012 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian and his BMC team will now be lead by Greg Van Avermaet. Past winners of the race in the this years edition include the 2010 winner Luis Leon Sanchez, 2008 winner Alejandro Valverde and the 2006 winner Xavier Florencio. 

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Full start list after the jump

Remaining Races in the 2012 Season

14th August: Clàssica San Sebastian (Spain)
-Tre Valli Varesine (Italy)
14th-17th August: Tour of Limousin (France) stage race
15th August: Coppa Ugo Agostoni (Italy)
15th-26th August: Volta a Portugal (Portugal)  stage race 
16th August: Coppa Bernochi (Italy)
-GP Capodarco (Italy)
17th August: Dutch Food Valley Classic (Netherlands)
18th August: Trofeo Melinda (Italy)
18th August-9th September: Vuelta de España (Spain)  stage race 
19th August: Vattenfall Cyclassics (Germany)
19th August: Chateauroux Classic (France)
20th-26th August: USA Procycling Challenge (USA)  stage race 
21st August: GP Stad Zottegem (Belgium)
21st-24th August: Tour du Poitou-Charentes (France)  stage race 
22nd August: Druivenkoers Overijse (Belgium)
22nd- 26th August: Danmark Rundt (Denmark)
23rd August: GP Industria e Commercio Artigianato Carnaghese (Italy)
25th August: Giro del Vento (Italy)
26th August: Schaal Sels (Belgium)
26th August: GP Ouest-France (France)
27th August: -1st September: Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda (Italy)  stage race 
31st August- 1st September: World Ports Cycling Classic (Belgium/Netherlands)  stage race