Come late March early April all of a sudden wet, windy and cold weather seems romantic. The cobbled gutters and laneways of some inner city suburbs call your name.

Each of us has the classic we identify with a little more than the others. The one we daydream about on the quiet roads of an early Sunday morning ride.

For a mate of mine it’s Milan-San Remo.

He claims this is the race that helps him understand why some people take drugs. When he's had to much too drink he says he’d give up five years of his life for a win at La Primavera.

Suffering from jet lag I didn’t watch Oscar Friere claim his third win. I didn’t need to. The seventeen text messages from 2-to-3am kept me up to speed every Cipressa and Poggio of the way.

I’m sure at some stage you would have heard those of us in the commentary tribune getting excited about the descending skills of Fabian Cancellara and Luis-Leon Sanchez.

But to see one of the greatest descending performances of all time get your hands on some footage of Sean Kelly in the 1992 Milan-San Remo. Unbelievable.

Moreno Argentin, a former world champion and multiple classics winner, had gone clear over the Poggio and could just about taste the champagne.

That was until Kelly attacked on the descent, rode away from the best in the world, caught the Italian and took the last great victory of his career.

Next on the calendar is this Saturday’s Gent-Wevelgem in Belgium, which has changed from the Wednesday between Flanders and Roubaix to claim it’s own weekend.

Historically it has been the proving ground for young cobblestoned specialists, prior to going onto win one of the races it was previously sandwiched in between. It has also been the hunting ground of sprinters with a little extra staying power.

In 2005 it delivered enough controversy to make it the most talked about classic of the season.

Juan Antonio Flecha looked just about home before local hero Nico Mattan, under the camouflage of press motorbikes and support vehicles, appeared from nowhere in the final 500 metres to snatch the win.

But if you’re having a debate with a Belgian about the most important classic of the season either say the Tour of Flanders or keep your mouth shut to save yourself the ear bashing.

The Ronde van Vlaanderen, as it’s known to the Flemish, is on Sunday 4 April and has been the scene of some close calls for Australians.

Phil Anderson was second behind his team-mate Eric Vanderaerden in 1985 and again in 1988 when he was beaten in a two-up sprint by Eddy Planckaert.

Stuart O’Grady was third in 2003 and the Racing Kangaroo, Heinrich Haussler, took second last year.

In a race that is all about the cobbled climbs and fighting all the way to the line the 2007 edition is worth another look.

It was the first really big win for Alessandro Ballan. He attacked on the most famous climb of the race, the Muur van Geraardsgergen, and was followed by Leif Hoste.

The two made it to the finish to contest the sprint where Ballan opened proceedings, was overtaken by Hoste, who looked to have it won, but managed to claw his way back and take the chocolates.

It’s then onto Paris-Roubaix on Sunday 11 April.

Known also as the “Queen of the Classics” or “A Sunday in Hell” the race across of the pave of France has plenty of personality.

After winning his only attempt at the race in 1981 Bernard Hinault said, “Paris–Roubaix is bullshit”.

The “Tranchée d'Arenberg”, as the French call it, pretty much sums it up. It’s trench warfare on a bike.

And if you were picking men to go to war with Stuart O’Grady would have to be pretty close to the top anyone’s list.

His 2007 win was a significant step in educating the broader Australian sports fan about cycling beyond the Tour de France.

The classics then change tact and head to the Ardennes.

First up is the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday 18 April.

It could be described as a hilly 250 kilometre criterium – up, down, turn left, turn right, cross wind, narrow road, climb, tight left, descend, sharp right…

Adding to his pioneering ways, it was here in 1983 that Phil Anderson became the first Australian to win one of cycling’s monuments.

From there it’s off to Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday 21 April with the viciously steep Mur de Huy to make the final decision.

The recent near misses by Cadel Evans, second in 2008 and fifth last year, could be turned around with the rainbow jersey on his back this year.

The most infamous edition of Fleche was the Gewiss-Ballan 1-2-3 performance of Moreno Argentin, Giorgio Furlan and Evgeni Berzin in 1994.

The three team-mates rode away from the peloton in a manner that had even the most ardent believes sit up and say “hang on a minute, what’s going on here”.

Closing out the spring classics season on Sunday 25 April is my favourite - Liege-Bastonge-Liege.

It became my favourite in 1997 when, as a dreamy eyed amateur, I sat glued to the television while sharing a studio apartment, and a bunk bed no less, with a Polish team-mate in France.

With just three riders left in front the much feared ONCE combination of Laurent Jalabert and Alex Zulle had Michele Bartoli boxed into a corner.

Jalabert would attack, Bartoli would chase, Zulle would attack, Bartoli would chase. And so it went on.

Bartoli finally grew sick of the chasing, launched his own attack and was never seen again.

The classics all have their unique characteristics that make them special but which one are you most looking forward to?