Ah, it's the race named after a highway - E3 ~~Harelbeke~~ Saxo Classic. Not the oldest classic - in case the name change didn't give it away - but a really entertaining one, the E3 is ridden in the Flemish Ardennes and is part of the series of cobbled classics which take place in March and April every year.
Traditionally, the E3 is the beginning of the Flemish Cycling Week which also counts Classic Brugge-De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and of course De Ronde van Vlaanderen.
The route is full of hills and cobbles, and features many of the most famous climbs of the area - Katteberg, La Houppe, Kruisberg, Kortekeer, Taaienberg, Eikenberg, Paterberg, and Oude Kwaremont - though the composition will change every year.
Think of this race as a mini-Tour of Flanders.
As always, the "list of favourites" could be 25 riders long depending on defects, but here are the most likely contenders:
- Mathieu van der Poel
- Mads Pedersen
- Christophe Laporte
- Florian Vermeersch
- Tobias Lund Andresen
- Jonas Abrahamsen
- Jasper Stuyven
- Tibor del Grosso
- Joshua Tarling
- Matteo Trentin
- Romain Gregoire
Of course, barring accidents and tactics, it's difficult to see beyond van der Poel on the climbs, and Mads Pedersen is looking surprisingly strong for a man who broke his collarbone and wrist only 4-6 weeks ago.
Enjoy!
Van der Poel (๐ณ๐ฑ Alpecin) was really exhausted. One could see him shaking his shoulders for 25 km at least, as he was struggling and struggling. And he was really lifeless long after he crossed the line.
As he has truly dipped into the beast, I am not sure he can recover before Ghent-Wevelgem which is just this Sunday.
Unless his hand caused him troubles today, he also doesn't seem as strong as Pogatchar, thus doesn't look like a match for the Slovenian at the upcoming Tour of Flanders. Despite his 70 km solo today...