Opinion: No, Strade Bianche is not a Monument (unofficial or otherwise) despite thrilling spectacle

After today’s compelling performance from Tadej Pogacar, you might think this a contrarian position to take. Such an extraordinary solo ride must, surely, have added a few stones to the side of the scales, in support of its elevation to the top table of one-day races. It was certainly an extraordinary ride.

It will live long in the collective memory, that’s for sure. (At least as far as modern memories are capable of retaining anything for longer than… what were we talking about?) Ad/> And Pogacar’s solo salute in the Piazza del Campo does, indeed, invite comparisons to his victories in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Il Lombardia last year. You’re perfectly entitled to make them, but no reasonable watcher of pro cycling will think it matches up, or even comes close, to either.

Strade Bianche'Pogacar does not register how good he is' — Reaction to Strade Bianche masterclass16 HOURS AGO Yet what makes either side of the argument’s case at once a challenge to make and so enticing an argument to provoke, is that the definition of a Monument is almost entirely nebulous. It is a category without hard borders. As far as the UCI is concerned, there’s no such thing as a Monument.

The word doesn’t occur once within the 315 pages of the governing body’s road race regulations (thank the stars for CTRL+F, is all I’m saying.) It’s true that all five Monuments are in that top tier of one-day races (third level overall), but then so are Gent-Wevelgem and Amstel Gold. Both are important races, but few of us speak especially adoringly about either one, or proposes its possible promotion to Monument class. In terms of UCI points available, which is the only meaningful measure we have, you might be surprised to learn that Strade Bianche finds