Written by Emma Harrison, PR Intern at Yuri SuperTeam and reviewed by Yuri from Yuri SuperTeam
Season 74’s Division 1 Classics once again delivered a blend of endurance, unpredictability, and prestige. From the cobbles of Roubaix to the Alpine ascents of Alpe d’Huez, the calendar crowned a diverse set of champions, mixing experience with emerging talent.
First let’s take a look at each classic individually:
----------------------------------------------
 Alpe d’Huez Classic
----------------------------------------------
A familiar face conquered the Alps again, as  Geert Tankink (Holwerda Cycling) took his second Alpe d’Huez Classic, adding to an already remarkable career that includes wins in both S71 and the World Championships. His performance reinforced the Netherlands’ dominance in climbing-based Classics, with Kelvin Jonker (Drollevangers) and  Vadimas Blekevicius (Team Oasis) completing a Dutch–Lithuanian podium. Blekevicius’ third place added to an astonishing record — five Alpe d’Huez podiums including three victories — making him one of the race’s all-time greats.
----------------------------------------------
 Zürich-Bern-Zürich
----------------------------------------------
Tradition met consistency as  Jacob Schwab (Alpine) once again stood on the Zürich podium, finishing second behind  Arkady Glukhov (Cyclocomotiv), who secured a breakthrough victory. Schwab’s result extended his incredible event record — three consecutive wins between S70 and S72, plus another at Alpe d’Huez (S69).  Håvard Dale (Ron Cycling Team) completed the top three, maintaining the Norwegian’s reputation as a dependable force in climbing terrain.
----------------------------------------------
Roubaix Classic
----------------------------------------------
The cobbles of Roubaix once again demanded strength and stability, and  Edric Yancy (UK Postal Service) rose to the challenge, taking his second major Classic victory after Antwerpen - Huy (S69). He held off  Anton Vandenbosch (LoleursLovers) and Geir Gilje (Alpine), the latter extending his extraordinary record of eight Roubaix Classic podiums (including 5 victories) between S66 and S73. For Alpine, it was another show of depth, with Gilje’s consistency confirming the team’s ongoing excellence on the toughest terrain.
----------------------------------------------
Norwich-London
----------------------------------------------
Power sprinters dominated in England as  Loren Volpe (Team Chili) claimed his first Division 1 Classic. Behind him,  Ronnie Clanachan (Yuri SuperTeam) secured another major podium for the Portuguese outfit, showing the team’s adaptability across profiles. The evergreen  Isidoro Morgovejo (Team AEK) completed the podium — an astonishing 35-year-old who has now collected over 15 Classic podiums since S62, underlining his place among the sport’s legends.
----------------------------------------------
| | Bergen Rundtur
----------------------------------------------
On Norway’s rolling terrain,  Abubakar Barreh (Drollevangers) became one of the season’s standout stories. The Zambian climber took a powerful win, giving his team their third Classic title. Behind him, Czech rider  Lev Procházka (CyclingClubChomutov) impressed with a well-timed ride into second, while Clemens Riesebusch (Jubalon ProCycling) rounded off the podium — a former Scottish Heritage Tour winner who has transitioned smoothly into one-day success.
----------------------------------------------
Antwerpen – Huy
----------------------------------------------
In Belgium, the aggressive and unpredictable Antwerpen – Huy Classic saw Marijonas Uzupis (LoleursLovers) lift his first major title after years of solid performances. His victory extended the team’s heritage in cobbled Classics. Danish rider René Nissen (Pelles Gazelles) and  Ernest Ison (Zakisu Pirtina) joined him on the podium, both riders showing the global spread of top-tier one-day racing.
----------------------------------------------
 Astana GP
----------------------------------------------
The Kazakh steppe rewarded versatility as  Emosi Lolesi (Willunga Hill) from New Zealand claimed the top spot, marking his nation’s first Division 1 Classic win in years. The Dutch duo Koen Vroom (DeRodeLantaarn) and Rob Warringa (LFC Rado team) took second and third, giving the Netherlands two more podium finishes and reinforcing the country’s deep roster of Classics talent.
----------------------------------------------
 Helsinki GP
----------------------------------------------
Northern conditions favoured the powerful rouleurs at the Helsinki GP, where  Leonid Savvatimov (Navarone Cycling Team) delivered a commanding victory. The Uzbek rider’s win marked his team’s forth career Helsinki GP title, and it came against elite opposition - Axel Shamberger (UK Postal Service) and  Brendan Northam (Yuri SuperTeam) filled the podium.
----------------------------------------------
Critérium La Provence
----------------------------------------------
Closing the calendar, the Critérium La Provence saw Lars Kvalheim (Alpine) complete a dominant campaign for the Norwegian and his team. After winning the Germany Tour GC “earlier” in the year *, Kvalheim’s Classic success confirmed his all-round form. Dutch rider Joost Vedder (DeRodeLantaarn), just 24 years old, claimed second and announced himself as a name for the future, while compatriot Guus Daniels (LFC Rado team) completed an all-Dutch podium behind Kvalheim.
* Germany Tour actually ends one day later then the Critérium, but Lars won it mathematically before winning the Classic in France
|
| | | | Global Triumphs, Familiar Names
The Classics podiums featured riders from 12 different nations, underlining the international nature of this division. Dutch riders stood out — four podium finishes between Geert Tankink, Kelvin Jonker, Koen Vroom, and Guus Daniels — reflecting the Netherlands’ continued dominance in one-day racing.
The average age across all podium finishers was 29.4 years, suggesting a well-balanced mix of prime-aged veterans and ambitious newcomers. Notably, Jacob Schwab (32, Alpine) and Vadimas Blekevicius (34, Team Oasis) added yet more milestones to their already storied careers, while youngsters like Joost Vedder (24, DeRodeLantaarn) hinted at the next generation’s arrival.
Teams that Defined the Season
Among the elite outfits, Alpine emerged as the most consistent squad, securing two podiums — Schwab’s 2nd at Zürich-Bern-Zürich and Kvalheim’s victory at the Critérium La Provence — extending their reputation as one of the most successful Classic-oriented teams in OCM history.
 Yuri SuperTeam, though not on the top step this time, maintained visibility through Ronnie Clanachan’s silver in Norwich-London and Brendan Northam’s bronze in Helsinki. With a total of 10 Classic wins in past seasons, Yuri continues to be a benchmark of Division 1 presence.
DeRodeLantaarn’s consistency also impressed, with two podiums ( Vedder and Vroom) showing strength across varied terrains.
Historic Echoes and Repeat Glory
Few moments encapsulated the spirit of S74 like the Zürich-Bern-Zürich race, where Jacob Schwab — a three-time winner of the event (S70–S72) — once again reached the podium, proving Alpine’s mastery of the Swiss terrain. Arkady Glukhov (Cyclocomotiv) and Håvard Dale (Ron Cycling Team) reinforced the event’s tradition of elite, loyal performers.
Meanwhile, Geert Tankink’s victory in the Alpe d’Huez Classic reaffirmed his status as one of the sport’s modern greats, with his second career win at the event, a Critérium La Provence (S70) and a World Championship (S73) title already in his palmarès.
Rising Profiles and Emerging Nations
Season 74 also marked breakthroughs for less traditional cycling nations. Zambia’s Abubakar Barreh (Drollevangers) won the Bergen Rundtur, the team’s second Classic title, while Czech rider Lev Procházka (CyclingClubChomutov) impressed with a solid 2nd place.
At the Astana GP, Emosi Lolesi (Willunga Hill) became New Zealand’s latest one-day hero, leading a podium flanked by two Dutchmen.
By the Numbers
Average podium age: 29.4 years
Youngest podium finisher: Joost Vedder (24, DeRodeLantaarn)
Oldest: Isidoro Morgovejo (35, Team AEK)
Most podiums by nation: Netherlands (4)
Most podiums by team: Alpine (2), DeRodeLantaarn (2), Yuri SuperTeam (2)
Repeat Classic winners: 5 riders defended podiums from previous seasons Geir Gilje (Alpine - Roubaix Classic), Vadimas Blekevicius (Team Oasis - Alpe d’Huez Classic), Jacob Schwab (Alpine - Zürich–Bern–Zürich), Brendan Northam (Yuri SuperTeam - Helsinki Classic) and Geert Tankink (Ron Cycling Team - Alpe d’Huez Classic)
A Season of Continuity and Change
If there’s one theme uniting Season 74’s Classics, it’s continuity at the top with fresh talent closing in fast. Veterans reaffirmed their class, but many new faces — particularly from DeRodeLantaarn, Drollevangers, and Team Chili — signalled an evolving landscape heading into Season 75.
With the top teams refining their approaches and younger stars gaining ground, next season’s Classics promise to be another captivating chapter in OCM’s ongoing narrative of endurance, legacy, and strategy.
|
