The Cobbled Classics are in full swing, coming thick and fast in Belgium. Ghent-Wevelgem will be crucial in the week leading to the Tour of Flanders, and a week after, Paris-Roubaix.

Watch the races live and on demand in the US, Canada and Australia this Sunday. 

Will history be made again? Last year, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) became the first black African to win a big one-day race and underlined his potential in cycling after the Under 23 World Championships gold medal the year before.

Whoever wins, they will be a worthy cobble crusher. The riders face 260.9 kilometers of racing this Sunday, March 26, in the southern part of Flanders on the border of France. They must navigate the gravel Plugstreets sectors, the short and steep climbs, including the famed and feared cobbled Kemmelberg, and the 16 kilometers of run in to Wevelgem where tactics keep everyone on edge.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won Milano-Sanremo and turns his attention to Flanders the following Sunday. As does Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), winner of Paris-Nice.

Girmay heads a group of favorites with 2021 winner Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and 2020 winner Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo).

Jasper Philipsen will lead the Alpecin-Deceuninck without van der Poel. Van Aert's Jumbo team will also have Christophe Laporte. Eyes are on Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny), who's ready to break through for a massive win at just 21 years old.

Elisa Balsamo won the women’s 2023 edition in the world champ's jersey, however, SD Worx this year has to be the favorite with the team taking the last three big WorldTour wins with Lorena Wiebes, Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky. Trek will again count on Balsamo along with Elisa Longo Borghini and Ellen van Dijk. Jumbo-Visma will have Marianne Vos and Coryn Labecki.

With so many stars, both on the men's and women's side, anything can happen over gravel Plugstreets and cobbled Kemmelberg in Sunday's Ghent-Wevelgem.