The best time of the year kicks off on Saturday when the first of the Classics hits the road in the shape of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Pro teams have been out riding the cobbles and climbs of the Classics ahead of the races, and many have posted their training rides on social media.

Team Sky

Lovely weather %uD83D%uDC40 for @LukeRowe1990, @lukaswisniowski & @Dannyvanpoppel as they take to the %uD83C%uDDE7%uD83C%uDDEA cobbles ahead of this weekend... pic.twitter.com/vsFilKxa6R — Team Sky %uD83D%uDEB2 (@TeamSky) February 22, 2017

Team Sky were out on the cobbles ahead of this weekend, with Luke Rowe, Lukus Wisniowski and Danny van Poppel putting in a wet and windy training ride.

As with last year, Rowe will likely take team leadership for the bigger Spring Classics either in his own right or shared with fellow Brit Ian Stannard.

Trek-Segafredo

Trek-Segafredo were also riding the pavé with components supplier Shimano along for the ride.

The team took on the Haaghoek sector with ease as they also faced truly Flandrien weather conditions.

Footage from the Trek team car shows the gradient in this climb, something the riders will have to tackle whilst jostling against rivals for the best position.

Wiggle-High5

Wiggle-High5 hit the cobbles ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which forms part of the Women's WorldTour.

Rain, mud and cobbles - it's what the Classics are all about.

Lotto-Soudal

Quick off the mark with their reconnaissance, Lotto-Soudal took in the Oude Kwaremont on a ride back near the start of the month.

The Belgian team and its riders are popular with the local crowds, so expect to see plenty of roadside support for them over the coming weeks.

'It’s useful to see the hills and cobbles again. It has been ten months since we raced on these roads and during such a training you see things that could be important in the race,' said Lotto-Soudal DS Herman Frison.

'Such rides are also perfect to test the tubes and tyre pressure.'

BMC Racing



%uD83D%uDC4D from @jempy_drucker as he hits the cobbles to test @vittoriatyres pressure and @ShimanoROAD wheels ahead of the Classics. pic.twitter.com/BRWShjAuWX — BMC Racing Team (@BMCProTeam) February 10, 2017

BMC Racing used their cobbles riding posts as an opportunity to give a shout out to their sponsors, as well as show Jempy Drucker's apparent enjoyment of the pavé ahead of actual races.

.@jempy_drucker has all of his @assos_com layers on as he tackles the cobbles today but it takes a brave man to ride without gloves! pic.twitter.com/izh7hwTN88 — BMC Racing Team (@BMCProTeam) February 10, 2017

He'll be easy to spot wherever he is in the peloton if he turns up in that jacket.

Wanty-Groupe Gobert

Bikes, riders, cars, staff ? All is ready for the classics and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. And you ?https://t.co/BkEcCEEnub — Team Wanty-Gobert (@TeamWantyGobert) February 21, 2017

Wanty-Groupe Gobert's preparation involved new decals for the team bus.

The new decorations include a touching tribute to Antoine Demoitie, who tragically lost his life after being struck by a motorcycle following a crash at the 2016 Gent-Wevelgem.

Roompot NL Loterij

Another very Belgian looking day for a ride in Belgium. Roompot NL Loterij headed into their southern neighbouring country to have a ride around on the race routes of the upcoming Classics, and even took in the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen.