Watts Occurring Breaking Down the Classics | Watts Occurring
Mar 27, 2026
A deep dive into the cobbled classics and what racing them actually feels like. Tactics in crosswinds and how Bruges-Depanneur can splinter the peloton. Intense, short courses like E3 and the relentless bergs of Flanders get unpacked. A compare-and-contrast of Flanders versus Roubaix and predictions for who might prevail.
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Classics Are A Compact, Brutal Block
- The cobbled classics sequence is a concentrated block where wind, route changes, and short intense courses create wildly different winners than flat sprints.
- Geraint Thomas and co. explain E3, Bruges and opening races pack climbs, crosswinds and cobbles into short 200km fights that punish and split the peloton early.
Crosswinds Turn Sprints Into Tactical Wars
- Crosswinds transform seemingly predictable sprint days into selection races where position and team numbers decide outcomes.
- Thomas and co. stress that being at the front with teammates lets you control splits, while being behind means a long, futile chase.
Exploit Windy Days To Upset Sprinters
- Use windy conditions to your advantage by targeting days where elite pure sprinters are neutralized by crosswinds.
- Thomas advises smaller teams to embrace crosswind race days because they open opportunities otherwise blocked by top sprinters.