Cycling's Monuments: The Elusive Grand Slam and Near Misses

Has any cyclist won all 5 monuments?

No, no cyclist in the history of professional road cycling has won all five of cycling's prestigious Monuments. This extraordinary feat remains one of the sport's most elusive achievements, a testament to the diverse and specialized demands of these iconic one-day races.

Introduction to Cycling's Monuments

In the world of professional road cycling, certain races stand above the rest, not just for their historical significance, but for the immense physical and mental challenges they present. These are the "Monuments" – five distinct one-day classics that test every facet of a cyclist's ability, from raw power and endurance to tactical acumen and technical skill. Winning even one Monument is a career-defining achievement; conquering multiple requires a rare blend of versatility and sustained excellence.

The Five Monuments: A Test of Diverse Cycling Prowess

Each of the five Monuments possesses a unique character, demanding a specific physiological profile and tactical approach from its competitors. Understanding these distinctions highlights why winning all five is such a formidable task.

• Milan-San Remo (La Primavera): Often dubbed "The Sprinter's Classic," this is the longest professional one-day race, typically exceeding 290 km. While it features climbs like the Poggio in its finale, the race often culminates in a mass sprint, favoring riders with explosive power after hours of sustained endurance.
• Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen): The quintessential cobbled classic, Flanders is characterized by its steep, short, cobbled climbs (hellingen) and narrow, winding roads. It demands immense anaerobic power for repeated accelerations, exceptional bike handling skills over brutal terrain, and a high pain tolerance.
• Paris-Roubaix (The Hell of the North): Perhaps the most visually distinctive and brutal of the Monuments, Paris-Roubaix is defined by its extensive sectors of ancient, bone-jarring cobblestones. It's a race of attrition, demanding incredible upper body strength, resilience, and an ability to maintain speed over incredibly rough surfaces, often favoring powerful rouleurs.
• Liège-Bastogne-Liège (La Doyenne): "The Old Lady" is the oldest Monument and a true Ardennes classic. Characterized by numerous long, steep climbs (côtes) in its latter half, it's a race for pure climbers and puncheurs with high VO2 max and excellent sustained power-to-weight ratios on gradients.
• Il Lombardia (The Race of the Falling Leaves): The final Monument of the season, Lombardia is another mountainous classic, often featuring significant elevation gain and iconic climbs like the Madonna del Ghisallo. It favors climbers and grand tour specialists who can sustain high power outputs on long ascents and descend with precision.

The Elusive Grand Slam: Has Anyone Achieved It?

Despite the storied history of professional cycling and the emergence of numerous generational talents, no cyclist has ever won all five Monuments. This fact underscores the extreme difficulty of the challenge. The physiological and technical demands of these races are so disparate that a rider typically excels in one or two types, rather than all five.

Why is Winning All Five So Difficult?

The inability of any single rider to conquer all five Monuments stems from a combination of factors rooted in exercise physiology, biomechanics, and the strategic nature of professional cycling.

• Physiological Specialization: Elite cyclists specialize. A powerful sprinter or rouleur, optimized for flat power output and anaerobic bursts (Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix), typically lacks the sustained climbing prowess required for mountainous races like Liège-Bastogne-Liège or Il Lombardia. Conversely, a pure climber struggles to compete in the high-speed finishes or cobbled battles. Winning all five would require a "universal" athlete capable of excelling across all energy systems and muscle fiber type demands.
• Technical Skill Adaptability: The bike handling skills required for navigating slick cobblestones at high speed are vastly different from those needed for fast, technical descents in the mountains or positioning in a chaotic bunch sprint. Mastering all these specific technical proficiencies to a world-class level is incredibly rare.
• Race Calendar Conflicts and Peaking: The Monuments are spread throughout the season. To peak for the spring classics (Milan-San Remo, Flanders, Roubaix, Liège) and then again for the autumn classic (Lombardia) while maintaining form for other major races (Grand Tours, World Championships) is an immense physical and logistical challenge for any athlete and their support team.
• Unpredictability and Luck: Cycling is a sport where luck plays a significant role. Crashes, mechanical failures, adverse weather conditions, and tactical missteps can derail even the strongest rider's chances, regardless of their form.

The Near Misses: Legends Who Came Close

While no one has achieved the full set, several legendary cyclists have come remarkably close, winning four of the five Monuments. Their achievements highlight the incredible versatility required.

• Eddy Merckx ("The Cannibal"): Widely regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time, Merckx won an astonishing 19 Monument titles, including Milan-San Remo (7 times), Tour of Flanders (2), Paris-Roubaix (3), and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (5). The only Monument that eluded him was Paris-Roubaix, though he famously won the race three times. (Correction: Merckx won Paris-Roubaix 3 times. The Monument he did not win was Il Lombardia, where he finished 2nd twice.)
  • Correction for accuracy: Eddy Merckx actually won Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He did not win Il Lombardia, finishing second twice.
• Roger De Vlaeminck ("Mr. Paris-Roubaix"): De Vlaeminck won Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix (a record-equalling 4 times), and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Like Merckx, Il Lombardia was the one that eluded him.
• Sean Kelly: The versatile Irishman won Milan-San Remo, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Il Lombardia, and Paris-Roubaix. The Tour of Flanders was the missing piece in his collection.

These riders represent the pinnacle of cycling versatility, showcasing an ability to adapt their physiological strengths and tactical approaches across a range of demanding competitions.

Conclusion: The Pinnacle of Cycling Versatility

The fact that no cyclist has won all five Monuments stands as a testament to the extreme specialization and diverse physiological demands inherent in professional road cycling. It underscores that while immense talent and dedication are crucial, the unique characteristics of each Monument create a barrier that even the greatest champions have been unable to fully overcome. The "Grand Slam" of cycling remains a dream, a mythical achievement awaiting a truly unprecedented athlete.