E3 Saxo Classic 2024
Latest News from the Race
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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 -
'Why not?' – Oier Lazkano not afraid to take on the best at the cobbled Classics
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
American team place four in top 11 after lighting up racing at E3 Saxo Classic with Stuyven, Skujins, Kirsch and Pedersen
Date | March 22, 2024 |
Length | 207 kilometres |
Start location | Harelbeke |
Start time | 11:10 CET |
Finish location | Harelbeke |
Estimated finish time | 17:00 CET |
Category | Men's WorldTour |
E3 Saxo Classic: Mathieu van der Poel takes stunning solo win
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.
Van Aert crashed on the Paterberg as Van der Poel attacked but still tried to close the gap, only to blow-up in the final ten kilometres and be caught by Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) who finished second.
Van der Poel finished 1:31 ahead of Stuyven and Van Aert, indicating that he is already on form for the 2024 cobbled Classics, despite this being just his second day of racing.
“I’m super happy. I didn’t expect it. I thought I needed a few more races to get to this level,” Van der Poel said after the finish.
Results
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E3 Saxo Classic History
Cycling's ultimate dress rehearsal - How E3 Saxo Classic predicts the Tour of Flanders
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 66th edition in 2024.
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.
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) got away with Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel in 2023 to win the race.
E3 Saxo Classic start list
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Races
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E3 Saxo Classic 202422 March 2024 | Harelbeke | WorldTour
Top News on the Race
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'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 -
How to watch the E3 Saxo Classic 2024
Watch the latest cobbled showdown between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel
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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 -
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
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