The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races

Dive into the wild, muddy, cobbled heart of pro cycling with this gripping history of the sport’s five most iconic one‑day races — the Monuments. Sure, the Tour de France gets the headlines, but ask any rider and they’ll tell you: these brutal one‑day epics are where legends are made.

Milan–Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Tour of Lombardy have been testing riders for over a century. They’re long, unpredictable, and completely unforgiving — from the bone‑rattling cobbles of Roubaix to the savage climbs of Flanders. Each race has its own personality, its own chaos, and its own heroes willing to push themselves to the edge for a shot at cycling immortality.

Only three riders in history — Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck — have ever conquered all five. But even winning one Monument can define a rider’s career forever. Packed with drama, characters, and the kind of stories that make cycling fans fall in love with the sport, this updated edition of The Monuments sees Peter Cossins dig deep into the history, myths and unforgettable moments that shaped these legendary races.

If you want to understand why these events matter so much — to riders and fans alike — this is the definitive, passionate, and utterly addictive guide.