The 2024 Cycling Calendar: Races Worth Watching
If you’re like me and you’ve gotten sucked into the world of professional cycling, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2024. Here’s my rundown of the races I’m actually going to make time for – the ones that matter, the ones that are fun to watch, and a few hidden gems.
The Big Three Grand Tours
Tour de France – Still the Main Event
Starting in Florence, Italy this year – first time ever – running from late June into July. The 111th edition, which is absolutely wild to think about. Over a century of suffering on two wheels.
Expect the usual suspects: Alpe d’Huez will make people cry, Mont Ventoux will break spirits, and someone’s going to crack in the final week like they always do. I love it. Can’t look away.
Giro d’Italia – The Beautiful Nightmare
Early May kicks off in Budapest. The Giro gets less attention than the Tour but honestly? It often delivers better racing. The Italians know how to design brutal mountain stages. Passo dello Stelvio is one of the most beautiful roads in the world to destroy your legs on.
If you’ve never watched the Giro, give it a shot. The scenery alone is worth it.
Vuelta a Espana – Late Summer Madness
Starting in Lisbon in late August, running into September. The Vuelta is weird and I mean that affectionately. Ridiculously steep climbs that make no sense, unpredictable racing, and it happens when riders are either peaking or falling apart after a long season.
Alto de l’Angliru might be the hardest climb in professional cycling. Look up videos of it. It’s basically a wall.
The Spring Classics – Where Chaos Reigns
Paris-Roubaix – The Hell of the North
Early April. Cobblestones. Suffering. Perfect. This race is pure chaos – punctures, crashes, mud if you’re lucky with the weather. It’s 257 kilometers of asking “why do they do this to themselves?” while being unable to look away.
Milan-San Remo – The Long One
Late March. Nearly 300 kilometers, making it the longest one-day race. Mostly boring until the Poggio climb near the end, and then absolute pandemonium for the finale. Sprinters vs opportunists vs whoever has legs left.
Tour of Flanders
Mid-April. Belgian classics are their own special brand of pain. Steep cobbled climbs, Belgian weather (read: probably terrible), and crowds that are drunk and enthusiastic. The Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg are the selection points – if you’re not in the front group after those, you’re done.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Late April. The oldest monument in cycling, and it earns that title. Relentless climbs through the Belgian Ardennes. La Doyenne, they call it – The Old Lady. She’s mean.
Other Races I Care About
Amstel Gold Race
The Dutch classic. Lots of short punchy climbs and the famous Cauberg to decide things. Different vibe from the Belgian races but equally painful.
Strade Bianche
Early March in Tuscany. Gravel roads, rolling hills, finishing in Siena’s medieval town square. One of the most photogenic races of the year, and usually produces exciting racing.
Criterium du Dauphine and Tour de Suisse
These June races are basically Tour de France previews. All the contenders show up to test their form. Good way to see who’s going to fight for yellow a few weeks later.
Tour Down Under
Starts the whole season in January. It’s in Australia so the time zones are brutal, but it’s the first real racing of the year. Everyone’s optimistic, legs are fresh, and it’s fun to see who spent their off-season actually training.
Why Bother Watching All This?
Honestly? Because it’s compelling drama disguised as sport. These riders are absurdly fit humans doing absurdly difficult things. The strategies are complex, the personalities are interesting, and there’s genuine uncertainty about outcomes.
Also, it’s great background watching while you’re on the trainer yourself. Nothing motivates you to keep pedaling like seeing professionals suffer worse than you.
Pick a few races, find a way to watch them (GCN+, peacock, uh… other methods), and enjoy the spectacle. You might get hooked.
