E3 Harelbeke 2016

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March 25, 2016, Harelbeke, Belgium, Road - WorldTour

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Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage from E3 Harelbeke.

 

Live coverage will commence at 11:45 CET.

 Hello and welcome to our live coverage from E3 Harelbeke. After Dwars door Vlaanderen, we're in Belgium once more for another instalment of cobbles and bergs.  

The official roll out isn't for another 25 minutes but riders have already braved the brisk spring air and ventured onto the podium for this morning's sign-on. Trek were one of the latest teams to sign in. 

The official roll out isn't for another 25 minutes but riders have already braved the brisk spring air and ventured onto the podium for this morning's sign-on. Trek were one of the latest teams to sign in. 

 Conditions today - typical Belgian weather for this time of year. It was raining earlier this morning but that's held off, while it's cold grey and with some wind too. 

The biggest news from the start line this morning is that one of the race favourites is out. Greg Van Avermaet, who has enjoyed a successful start to the season came down with a stomach illness and misses today. It seems he's fine but with Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders on the horizon, this is very much a precaution. You can read the full story here.

There's certainly a few bugs going around. Ian Boswell pulled out of the Volta a Catalunya yesterday because he was a little under the weather. He'll head home for some much needed rest, while news has come in that Geraint Thomas has pulled out of the same race. We don't know the exact circumstances on that but more as we get it.

Just under 20 minutes until the peloton roll out from the town centre, so plenty of time for you to watch our video on the ten riders to watch during E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem. The video is just here.

And don't forget that our most recent podcast is just here too. It features Sean Kelly, with the former rider trying to decide who is the best rider of this generation, Boonen or Cancellara. You can listen to the podcast right here.

 

Jürgen Roelandts is talking to the media just after signing on. The Belgian rider finished on the podium in Milan-San Remo and is clearly in form. I may be wrong but that was his second podium finish in a Spring monument and Lotto come into this cluster of races full of confidence after their win earlier in the week in Dwars Door Vlaanderen.

The riders have gathered on the start line and the roll out is just moments away.

Tom Boonen, who always receives the biggest cheers here, is near the front at the moment and as ever he's in a relaxed mood on the start line. Today will give a strong indication of where Boonen is in terms of form and fitness. 

There was a minute's silence before the riders rolled out this morning. Cycling paying respects after the terrorist attacks in Brussels.

Over in Spain the riders are signing on for the Volta a Catalunya. We have highlights from yesterday's exciting Contador-Quintana battle, right here. 

FDJ’s riders are wearing a Belgian flag on their sleeves at E3 Harelbeke as a mark of respect to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday.

The earlier photo was of the Team Sky Pinarello bikes. The British team animated Milan-San Remo with a couple of strong attacks and Ben Swift finishing second. They come into this race with a decent line-up and a few more cards to play. 

 

The race has now officially started and we've already seen a few probing attacks but after 8km the race is still together. 

A reminder of last year's top ten:

Sporza have put together a neat list of all the climbs on the route today. From last year two climbs have been taken out but they organisers have shaved off a few kms in order to make the finale tougher. We'll see how that pans out over the next few hours.

Some news in that we're hearing: Mark Cavendish will not race Gent-Wevelgem, de Panne or the Tour of Flanders. Apparently the former road world champion will take a period of rest after his busy start to the season. 

173km remaining from 206km

Peter Sagan is riding near the front. The world champion is still looking for his first win of the 2016 season and today is a race that will be marked on his card. He's backed by a very robust Tinkoff team:


1 Peter Sagan (Svk)
2 Juraj Sagan (Svk)
3 Jay McCarthy (Aus)
4 Maciej Bodnar (Pol)
5 Oscar Gatto (Ita)
6 Michael Gogl (Aut)
7 Adam Blythe (GBr)
8 Nikolay Trusov (Rus)

We have a break. It's just two riders and they have less than ten seconds but it's something. 168km to go.

Van Melsen was one of the riders in the break but they didn't have enough rope from the bunch and the race is once again back together. 

We mentioned the strength of Tinkoff but what about Etixx QuickStep? It's not impossible to imagine any one of those riders winning a race like E3, such is the depth to the squad.

11 Tom Boonen (Bel)
12 Iljo Keisse (Bel)
13 Tony Martin (Ger)
14 Zdeněk Štybar (Cze)
15 Niki Terpstra (Ned)
16 Matteo Trentin (Ita)
17 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel)
18 Łukasz Wiśniowski (Pol)

Zdenek Stybar is one of many contenders within the Etixx-QuickStep team today. He’s had a week off after racing at Milan-San Remo last Saturday and he’s ready to get back into the mix.

160km remaining from 206km

Three more riders are trying to make contact with the leading group with the bunch still at 30 seconds. 

At the start this morning last year's winner Geraint Thomas provided a video message. We spoke to his teammate Luke Rowe.

 

That second group on the road has split and it's hard to see them making contact with the leaders at this point. The bunch, still at 30 seconds.

One less thing for the attackers to worry about as the peloton sit up and the break moves out to 4'15. The three riders behind are within touching distance and the break are likely to ease off for just a moment in order to strengthen their arsenal. 

BMC woke up to the news that their team leader Greg Van Avermaet would not be racing today after he developed stomach problems over night. Manuel Quinziato spoke to the press at the start, saying that the team were hoping to put on a good show for Van Avermaet.

145km remaining from 206km

It's Lotto Soudal who are currently on the front and setting the pace for the peloton. Their team today:

The three chasers were Olivier Le Gac, Jasha Sutterlin and Jay Robert Thompson.

We have a full run-down of quotes from the startline this morning. You can find them just here. 

It's all over over for Olivier Le Gac, who has been caught by the peloton. Eight leaders still up the road with a gap of 5'32 with 132 km to go.

A reminder of the riders currently in the break:

Antoine Demoitie (Wanty - Groupe Gobert), Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling), Jay Robert Thomson (Dimension Data), Wouter Wippert (Cannondale Pro Cycling), Bert De Backer (Team Giant-Alpecin), Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale), Sjoerd van Ginneken (Roompot - Oranje Peloton), Tony Hurel (Direct Energie)

The leaders are about to hit La Houppe, one of the climbs on this draining 206km course. The gap to the peloton is still at a relatively healthy 5'30.

The break crest the top of the climb with the peloton not yet at the bottom. Lotto Soudal and Etixx leading the peloton.

The work at the front of the peloton is starting to pay dividends with the lead slipping to 4'33.

The continued pressure from the peloton continues to pay off as they reduce the break's gap to 2'45. There's still an awful long way to go today - 106km but the pace is frantic.

And don't forget that our most recent podcast is just here too. It features Sean Kelly, with the former rider trying to decide who is the best rider of this generation, Boonen or Cancellara. You can listen to the podcast right here.

We also have our video on the top 10 riders to watch in E3 and Gent-Wevelgem. Check it out.

Pozatto a former winner here  is back with the team car with a mechanical. He had a decent showing in San Remo as IAM lead the peloton along with Lotto-Soudal. The gap to the break is now at 2'49 with 95km to go.

Pozzato has another problem with his bike and this time takes a new rear wheel. He has a bit of work to do as he chases back. A couple of teammates would be ideal help.

Tinkoff are starting to mass at the front now with Peter Sagan positioning his troops. Tony Martin gives them a quick glance, just to acknowledge their presence, before going back to work and protecting last year's runner up, Stybar.

A teammate drops back to help Pozatto return to the peloton. He still has a bit of a gap to close.

Sam Bewley comes down in a fall. He is on his feet but that one looked sore. He stretches his back out and looks around for new bike. 

Katusha and Trek hit the front on the Knokteberg with 87km to go. The pace has eased somewhat as Etixx also help set the pace.

The bunch make it over the berg without too much fuss. It's now full gas as the road changes direction, and with it the wind too. Up ahead the break continue to go about their business with their advantage at 2'35.

Onto the next climb, the Hotondberg, and it's Team Sky who dash to the front. Their whole line up are moving up to join Etixx QuickStep. Fenn waves his teammates on because he know how crucial positioning is for the lead into the next climb. 

81km remaining from 206km

Wynants has a flat at just the wrong moment - just as Etixx put the hammer down. A teammate hands him a wheel and it's a quick change but Wynants has a long chase ahead of him.

The surge from Etixx sees the gap to the break drop down to 1'16 as the leaders hit the next climb, the Kortekeer. 17per cent pitches on this one. 

Viviani is held up on the climb and appears to have a problem with his gears. He's looking around for a team car but he will be waiting a little longer.

Onto the iconic Taaienberg and the break hug the gutter as they lurch up the 18 per cent slopes. 

73km remaining from 206km

The peloton hit the climb and Boonen is second wheel with Jürgen Roelandts is the one setting the pace and doing the damage.  

There are a number of splits with Cancellara having to make up some ground. Oss is in the Boonen group. Terpstra is there and Cancellara appears to be moving up. Rowe is there for Sky and Sagan is there too. Etixx have three men, Boonen one of them. A lot of big hitters are there. Four for Etixx, sorry.

They've isolated Sagan and Cancellara and they - being Etixx push the pace with Terpstra on the front.

Lotto Soudal have two men in this move. Vanmarcke is there and I think that Boom too. Sky are leading the chase for the next group. 

Boonen has Trentin there too. Lotto have Benoot and Roelandts

Correction. Sagan is not in the Boonen group. The group contains:

Matteo Trentin, Niki Terpstra, Tom Boonen and Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep), Fabian Cancellara (Trek), Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNl-Jumbo), Lars Boom (Astana), Jurgen Roelandts and Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal), Daniel Oss (BMC)

And it's Team Sky who are leading the chase with a group that contains Sagan. 

Roughly 15-20 seconds between the Etixx and Sky groups. 

Cancellara wisely sits at the back and sits out of trouble. He's not going to do a tap of work at the moment as Vanmarcke and Boom converse. It's all up to Etixx and Lotto Soudal to do the work as they have the numbers. 

And Cancellara has a problem with his bike. It's with his chain and rear mech. He's out of the group and tosses his bike to the side of the road. He picks it up straight away but he has to wait for assistance. 

A couple of locals gather around him but the Swiss rider folds his arms and stares out into the distance. Race over for the Trek leader. 

66km remaining from 206km

Cancellara is on his own but going past riders in the convoy. 

The break has been caught and we have around 30 riders at the front of the race. Etixx have 6-7 riders in there. 

It's Sky who move up and lead the peloton, careful not to make another mistake and miss another split.

Onto the Eikenberg for the front of the race with 62km to go. It's Tony Martin setting the pace at the moment.

Cancellara hasn't given up yet. You know he's won this race from attacking from the back before. His ride here in 2011 remains one of the most impressive one-day performances from the last 10 years. 

Boonen is just sitting in second wheel, just off Martin at the moment as they head towards the next climb, the Stationberg.

Cancellara has support from his team and he's still chasing the field at 1'15 down on the leaders. 

Tony Martin remains on the front and keeps the pace high. Puccio sits on his wheel as the rest of the Etixx team sit back. It's effectively Tony Martin versus three Trek Segafredo riders.

Trek do have a couple of riders in the lead group, it has to be said, including Kuurne winner Stuyven.

Cancellara pushes on alone and makes it to the back of the peloton. He still has 53 seconds to make up to the leaders.

Martin moves his arms over the bars and tucks his body into the most aero position possible as he drags the leaders onto a flat section of road. Cancellara and the main field are now 37 seconds back. The Trek rider is coming back...

Katusha and Trek are pulling the race back together. Fair to assume then that Kristoff has also missed the split. The gap is at 25 seconds. 

50km remaining from 206km

Three Etixx riders set the pace in a response to the charge from Trek. The gap is holding at 25 seconds with 46km to go.

It was a puncture for Stybar we are now hearing.

Stybar is just sitting on Cancellara's wheel but the Trek rider is running out of teammates. Will he make a move on his own? The gap is 33 seconds with 44km to go. Devolder versus Etixx at the moment and the former Flanders winner is up against it. 

And it's Kwiatkowski who sets the pace. Out of the saddle goes the former world champ as we hear that Devolder has cracked. Now it's all up to Cancellara. Can he close the gap? This is really helping Stuyven who can watch Etixx burn their matches and just stay safe. 

And Cancellara is slowly closing the gap but he has Stybar on his shoulder. One battle at a time I guess.

Boonen moves up and sets the pace on the descent. He will want to eliminate his old rival for good. Etixx are down to three men in the front group by the way so the race is starting to wear down the bunch. Sagan is on Stannard's wheel as both riders take a turn. 

Three climbs to come. The next one... the Kwaremont.

Trentin is a class rider, so underrated, as he marshals the lead group for Boonen. There are less than 15 riders in the lead group. 

Two Sky men, three from Etixx, Sagan, Vanmarcke and we're on the Kwaremont with Terpstra setting the pace. 

The leaders are :

Sagan has slipped back a it as Cancellara continues to push on with Stybar acting has his shadow. 

Kristoff has cracked and he's slipping back as we see Terpstra stretch the lead group almost to breaking point. 

And Sagan hits the front with a turn of speed that makes it look as though Terpstra is standing still. 36km to go. 

As back down the climb Cancellara picks off riders one by one.

Sagan is matched by Terpstra and Boom. Stannard pulls the move back together. Cancellara now has Stuyven with him and Cancellara is still trying to pull the race back together. 

34 seconds between the Sagan/Boonen group and Cancellara. 

17 seconds between these two groups:

Matteo Trentin, Niki Terpstra, Daniel Oss, Ian Stannard, Peter Sagan, Michal Kwiatkowski, Lars Boom, Tiesj Benoot, Tom Boonen, Sep Vanmarke

Cancellara is going to make it. Shades of 2011 all over again.

32km remaining from 206km

Here are the riders in the lead:

Lars Boom (Astana), Daniel Oss and Jean-Pierre Drucker (BMC Racing Team), Matteo Trentin, Niki Terpstra, Tom Boonen, Zdenek Stybar (Etixx - Quick-Step), Dries Devenyns (IAM Cycling), Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal), Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNl-Jumbo), Ian Stannard and Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Team), Jasper Stuyven and Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo)

Sky take it up with 30km to go on the Karnemelkbeekstraat with Michał Kwiatkowski as Sagan goes too and the pair have a slight lead. Trentin goes after them as Cancellara sets a steady pace.

Stuyven has been dropped but he could still come back on the flat section.

The last two world champions have a gap and they're going to work together. 30km to go and Terpstra accelerates because Trentin has popped. 

The two leaders have about 5 seconds on the chase and it's up to Lotto Soudal and Etixx to chase this down. Sagan and Michał Kwiatkowski know each other so well from their juniour days and just a few words are exchanged before they put their heads down and push on.

26km remaining from 206km

It's a two-up time trial as Boonen drifts back and tries to get the group to work. 

19 seconds now for the two leaders. BMC have two men in the chase group but they're not working yet. Terpstra just tries to limit the losses at the moment as the gap goes out to 25 seconds.

Cancellara and Vanmarcke pitch in with a few turns as Etixx struggle to get back on terms. The gap is 22 seconds with 20km to go. Normally you'd favour the chasers with such a slender time gap but this is Sagan and Michał Kwiatkowski.

19km remaining from 206km

Stuyven who did come back has moved to the front but the gap continues to grow. It's at 37 seconds.

Terpstra comes back to the front and lifts the pace once more. The gap is holding at 36 seconds with 16.km to go. 

Even Terpstra can't make any inroads into the gap. It's holding at 37 seconds. 

From Catalunya here are today's top tens. You can read our report, here.


1 Wouter Poels (Ned) Team Sky 3:59:03
2 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:11
3 Gaetan Bille (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
4 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data
5 Carlos Verona (Spa) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:13
6 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:33
7 Aleksei Tsatevich (Rus) Team Katusha
8 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
9 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - Merida
10 Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky

General classification after stage 5

1 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 23:01:19
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff Team 0:00:07
3 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:17
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:21
5 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:27
6 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:32
7 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:42
8 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:46
9 Hugh Carthy (GBr) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:01:01
10 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:01:16

12km remaining from 206km

10km remaining from 206km

The Etixx pair take a few seconds off the lead. It's down to 28 seconds with 7.6km to go.

5km remaining from 206km

Stybar has pulled off, his job done. The gap is at 28 seconds with 4km to go. 

Kwiatkowski shakes his legs as he tries to find some freshness in his legs as the gap drops to 17 seconds. 3.7km to go.

This could come down to the wire because Boonen is leading the chase for Trentin. 19 seconds.

Boonen just took ten seconds off the lead pair in less than 500m. What more can he do?

3km remaining from 206km

He calls Kwiatkowski through for a turn and he obliges but they're both looking around. 2.1km to go, the gap at 17 seconds.

Terpstra has pulled up, so it's all down to Boonen. 14 seconds now with 1.6km to go.

This helps Sagan because Kwiatkowski can't afford to mess around or skip a turn. 

11 seconds!

1km remaining from 206km

Sagan leads them into the sprint.

The world champion moves to the barriers. 

Michał Kwiatkowski goes for it.

Sagan can't respond. The world champion doesn't have the legs.

Michał Kwiatkowski wins E3 Harelbeke. Ian Stannard takes third.

Second year in a row and Sagan has been found wanting in the latter stages of this race. It's another second place for the Tinkoff rider too.

Last year it was Thomas, and this time it's Kwiatkowski. Sky march on. 

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team
3 Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky
4 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo
5 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
6 Lars Boom (Ned) Astana Pro Team
7 Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal
8 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
9 Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team
10 Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team

A truly memorable edition of E3 Harelbeke today. Lets speak to the winner now:

 

"After 30, 40km, going both together, I knew I had to go for a long sprint, because Peter seems to have this kick, this punch, bigger than me. I tried to go more than 300m before the finish and that worked out. I didn't look back, I just went full gas to the finish."

Sagan has now talked to the press following yet another second place:

 

Sagan also added:

“It’s my destiny - who has more second places than me"
 “It’s time to start winning.”

 

Top ten from E3 Harelbeke:

Thanks for joining us today. You can find our report, results and photos, right here.

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