E3 Saxo Classic 2025
Latest News from the Race
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E3 Saxo Bank Classic winners 1958-2024
Champions 1958-2024 -
E3 Saxo Classic extends title sponsorship deal through 2027
Cobbled race is one of few top-level spring Classics still independently run -
Cancellara's Classics column: Don't overlook the mental aspect of the Van der Poel-Van Aert duel
Peerless Van der Poel triumphs over under-pressure Van Aert, though history shows nobody is unbeatable at Flanders and Roubaix
Date | March 28, 2025 |
Length | 208.6 kilometres |
Start location | Harelbeke |
Finish location | Harelbeke |
Start time | 12:45 CET |
Finish time | 17:30 CET |
Category | Men's WorldTour |
Previous edition | 2024 E3 Saxo Classic |
Previous winner | Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) |
E3 Saxo Classic History
The E3 Saxo Classic - formerly known as the E3 Harelbeke, is a one-day cobbled Classic that had its first edition in 1958. The race was cancelled once in 2020 due to the coronavirus global pandemic and will have its 67th edition in 2025.
It is a lead-up race to the Tour of Flanders, falling mid-week between Gent-Wevelgem and Brugge-De Panne. Since 2012 the race has been part of the UCI WorldTour.
Tom Boonen holds the record for most wins with five between 2004 and 2012, breaking the previous mark held by Rik Van Looy who won four times between 1964 and 1969.
The E3 Saxo Classic is considered a 'mini Tour of Flanders' as it uses many of the same climbs and cobbles and is a major test for the contenders before the Tour of Flanders.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won the first head to head battle of 2024 with Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), attacking on the Paterberg with 43km to go and then holding off Van Aert in a pursuit match to the finish.
In 2023, Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) got away with Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel to win the race.
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E3 Saxo Classic route
The 2025 E3 Saxo Classic includes 17 'bergs' and several sections of cobblestone roads across the 208.6 kilometre route from Harelbeke and back.
See the full E3 Saxo Classic route.
E3 Saxo Classic start list
Data powered by FirstCycling
E3 Saxo Classic teams
- Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Arkea-B&B Hotels
- Bahrain Victorious
- Cofidis
- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
- EF Education - EasyPost
- Groupama-FDJ
- INEOS Grenadiers
- Intermarché - Wanty
- Lidl-Trek
- Movistar Team
- Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
- Soudal Quick-Step
- Team Jayco AlUla
- Team Picnic PostNL
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- UAE Team Emirates
- XDS Astana Team
- Lotto
- Uno-X Mobility
- Israel-PremierTech
- Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
- Teal Flanders-Baloise
- Totalenergies
- Tudor Pro Cycling Team
Races
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E3 Saxo Classic 202528 March 2025 | Harelbeke | WorldTour
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Elite Men | Harelbeke - Harelbeke2025-03-28 208.6km
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Latest Content on the Race

E3 Saxo Classic extends title sponsorship deal through 2027
By Dani Ostanek published
News Cobbled race is one of few top-level spring Classics still independently run

Cancellara's Classics column: Don't overlook the mental aspect of the Van der Poel-Van Aert duel
By Fabian Cancellara published
Peerless Van der Poel triumphs over under-pressure Van Aert, though history shows nobody is unbeatable at Flanders and Roubaix

'Why not?' – Oier Lazkano not afraid to take on the best at the cobbled Classics
By James Moultrie published
News Basque produces thrilling day on the attack at E3 Saxo Classic with more to come at Flanders and Roubaix

Stuyven, Lidl-Trek delighted with second behind 'on another level' Van der Poel at E3
By James Moultrie published
News American team place four in top 11 after lighting up racing at E3 Saxo Classic with Stuyven, Skujins, Kirsch and Pedersen

'A day of bad luck' - Matteo Jorgenson and Visma endure rough E3 Saxo Classic
By Barry Ryan published
News Crash after finishing in fifth place adds 'insult to injury' for American

'I thought he was going to close' - Van der Poel fends off Van Aert at E3 Saxo Classic in perfect start to cobbled Classics
By James Moultrie published
News 'I didn't feel really great this week in training either, but it's the races that count’ says Dutchman after launching 44km solo move on Paterberg

'It was a stupid mistake' – Crash proves costly for Wout van Aert at E3 Harelbeke
By Barry Ryan published
News Paterberg fall changes race as Belgian takes third behind Mathieu van der Poel

'Still a question mark' – Ill Christophe Laporte racing against time before Tour of Flanders
By Barry Ryan published
News European champion unable to train since San Remo, likely to miss Gent-Wevelgem
Top News on the Race
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'I thought he was going to close' - Van der Poel fends off Van Aert at E3 Saxo Classic in perfect start to cobbled Classics
'I didn't feel really great this week in training either, but it's the races that count’ says Dutchman after launching 44km solo move on Paterberg -
'It was a stupid mistake' – Crash proves costly for Wout van Aert at E3 Harelbeke
Paterberg fall changes race as Belgian takes third behind Mathieu van der Poel -
'Still a question mark' – Ill Christophe Laporte racing against time before Tour of Flanders
European champion unable to train since San Remo, likely to miss Gent-Wevelgem
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How to watch the E3 Saxo Classic 2024
Watch the latest cobbled showdown between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel -
Wout van Aert without Laporte in E3 Saxo Classic title defense
Belgian completes Spring Classics altitude training -
After 75 hours and 50,000m of climbing at altitude, Wout van Aert 'confident' about cobbled Classics return
'I've been feeling less pressure for a whole year than I had in the past' says Belgian ahead of E3 Saxo Classic
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Paterberg may be out of Tour of Flanders and E3 Saxo Classic following landslides
Road works threaten to take out the only road approaching key climb of Spring Classics -
Julian Alaphilippe: ‘Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pogacar on a different level right now’
'Self pity isn’t any use' Frenchman says of Soudal-Quick Step's Classics crisis -
Biniam Girmay blames poor Gent-Wevelgem on forgetting to eat
2022 winner will make Tour of Flanders debut on his 23rd birthday
Related Features
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Cancellara's Classics column: Don't overlook the mental aspect of the Van der Poel-Van Aert duel
Peerless Van der Poel triumphs over under-pressure Van Aert, though history shows nobody is unbeatable at Flanders and Roubaix -
From Team Sky to Wout van Aert - how altitude training revolutionised preparation for the Classics
Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard on the pros and cons of Belgian’s Tenerife training camp -
Rivalry without end - Van der Poel and Van Aert's duel sets tone for cobbled Classics
The Big Two lead the way, but no shortage of challengers on the rocky road to Roubaix -
Fabian Cancellara's Classics column - Wout van Aert sits Mathieu van der Poel down to turn weakness into strength
Our expert analyst dissects E3 Saxo Classic, poring over the sprint finish and asking: what kind of rider is Tadej Pogacar? -
The favourites of the cobbled classics - Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pogacar primed for the road to Roubaix
A glance at the men's peloton's rocky road to Flanders and Roubaix