E3 Saxo Classic 2026, March 27

[Dazed and Confused]

Startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/e3-harelbeke/2026/startlist

Still rooting for Bettiol, but my confidence is fragile.

Live coverage is early, but not sure.

 

[jono]

One of my favourite non-monument races on the calendar. Nearly always produces a select group and a strong winner.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Maybe a local can provide an update on the weather forecast.

 

[Gratemans]

Forecast says pretty weak winds but it might start to rain a bit in the afternoon.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

With this field, it should play out in the exact same way that both last year's edition and this year's Omloop did. At least the four remaining cobbled classics after this are all likely to be better.

 

[Pantani_lives]

They have made this race even tougher by doing the Kwaremont twice. The first time they will take a different side (Keuzelingstraat), which has no cobblestones but is long with steep parts. The Karnemelkbeekstraat or "E3 Col", which has the language border in the middle, will also be done twice.

This could mean the final starts even earlier, at 95 km before the finish.

Weather: cloudy and probably dry until 18.00h. Southwest wind, so it will mostly come from the front left in the final.

 

[jotafap]

Why would Wout not come here? I think it would make perfect sense, no?

 

[tobydawq]

Why are Burgos getting all these nonsense invites?

 

[jono]

Why would Wout not come here? I think it would make perfect sense, no?

He essentially chose DDV over E3. No contender will ride all 3 classics in the lead up to RVV. Not that crazy, imo, especially since riding DDV gives him one opportunity to win a race without Pogacar or van der Poel present.

 

[search]

Why are Burgos getting all these nonsense invites?

I guess they just showed interest? Cofidis apparently decided not to come, and Intermarché and Wallonie folding freed up two spots as well this year. E3 didn't even (get to?) use all wildcards.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

No more Kanarieberg, but this race has the perhaps best narrow road stretch of the classics. Bad terrain for big groups from after Hotond basically until the Oude Kwaremont. Only makes it easier for Van der Poel, though.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Also, the broadcast starts an hour after the start of the race, much better than the other small classics. How much would it cost them to add that hour though?

 

[KZD]

Van der Poel is the clear favourite but I am curious to see how close Pedersen will be to him.

 

[Sciatic]

Why would Wout not come here? I think it would make perfect sense, no?

Perhaps because he knows that the winner of E3 (if you take Boonen) doesn’t win RvV

 

[dobrien]

One of my favourite non-monument races on the calendar. Nearly always produces a select group and a strong winner.

Same, this is a great race imho.

 

[jono]

Perhaps because he knows that the winner of E3 (if you take Boonen) doesn’t win RvV

Winner of E3 also won RVV two years ago.

But I guess it's partially true - when Wout wins E3 he does not win the Ronde!

 

[Pantani_lives]

Perhaps because he knows that the winner of E3 (if you take Boonen) doesn’t win RvV

• 1976 Walter Planckaert
• 1979 Jan Raas
• 1998 Johan Museeuw
• 1999 Peter Van Petegem
• 2005 Tom Boonen
• 2006 Tom Boonen
• 2010 Fabian Cancellara
• 2012 Tom Boonen
• 2013 Fabian Cancellara
• 2018 Niki Terpstra
• 2021 Kasper Asgreen
• 2024 MvdP

Maybe you're confused with the Omloop. In the past half century this double has happened twelve times, so the E3 winner has a 24% chance to win the Ronde, which is more than Van Aert has now.

[EDITED TWICE]

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Van der Poel is the clear favourite but I am curious to see how close Pedersen will be to him.

 

[RedheadDane]

• 1976 Walter Planckaert
• 1979 Jan Raas
• 1998 Johan Museeuw
• 1999 Peter Van Petegem
• 2005 Tom Boonen
• 2006 Tom Boonen
• 2012 Tom Boonen
• 2024 MvdP

Aren't you forgetting someone?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Aren't you forgetting someone?

Somehow it seems to be unavoidable to always overlook one when you compile a list like this. So it's 18% - scientifically proven!

 

[search]

It seems like Belgian press struggled a bit today to find enough contenders, resulting in a somewhat random looking star rating

***** van der Poel
**** M. Pedersen, Laporte
*** Stuyven, T. van Dijke, F. Vermeersch
** van Baarle, Grégroire, Mohoric, de Gendt
* Berckmoes, Segaert, Girmay, Pithie, Lund

 

[Berniece]

@Armchair Cyclist this needs a sticky

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

It seems like Belgian press struggled a bit today to find enough contenders, resulting in a somewhat random looking star rating

***** van der Poel
**** M. Pedersen, Laporte
*** Stuyven, T. van Dijke, F. Vermeersch
** van Baarle, Grégroire, Mohoric, de Gendt
* Berckmoes, Segaert, Girmay, Pithie, Lund

Missing Abrakadabra here

 

[tobydawq]

Somehow it seems to be unavoidable to always overlook one when you compile a list like this. So it's 18% - scientifically proven!

Well, you also forgot Cancellara in 2010 and 2013 and Terpstra in 2018.

This double is actually extremely common for the past 21 years where it has happened eight times.

 

[tobydawq]

Now you made me go back on the list of previous winners, and that made me stumble upon a name I've definitely not seen before:

Willy in 't Ven

Willy In 't Ven

Willy In 't Ven (born 1943-03-01 in Turnhout) is a former professional road racing cyclist from Belgium, active between 1966 and 1978. His best results are winning E3-Prijs Harelbeke and winning a stage in Vuelta a España.

www.procyclingstats.com

That would be fun to hear non-Dutch proficient commentators try to say!