Sometimes, the winner of the E3 Saxo Classic also comes out on top in the Tour of Flanders, as happened last year when Mathieu van der Poel won both races solo. The E3 was more or less a walkover; he attacked at the foot of the Paterberg, roughly 40 kilometres out. At the time of his attack, his main contender, Wout van Aert, crashed and lost contact. The rest of the race was a cat-and-mouse game, with the mighty cat never really under threat.
The E3 Saxo Bank Classic features both stretches of pavé and short, sharp climbs—often cobbled as well—a combination that significantly wears the riders down. The route spans over 200 kilometres, with most obstacles concentrated in the second half of the race. The Tiegemberg is the last of seventeen climbs and is crested with 22 kilometres remaining.
Bunch sprints hardly ever occur in the E3, but the race has seen its fair share of successful late attacks and sprints of select groups. For instance, in 2023, Tadej Pogacar attacked from a strong lead group on the steep cobbles of the Oude Kwaremont. Mathieu van der Poel followed him closely, while Wout van Aert bridged across after the summit. The three superstars kept the chasers at bay before Van Aert outsprinted Van der Poel and Pogacar in Harelbeke.
Long-range attacks are quite common in the E3. In 2022, team mates Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte attacked on the Paterberg on the same spot as Mathieu van der Poel did last year. The duo went on the Paterberg, and opened up a 2 minutes gap before crossing the line together, with Van Aert taking the victory.
Other winners in the past thirteen editions are Kasper Asgreen (2021, solo), Zdenek Stybar (2019, five-up sprint), Niki Terpstra (2018, solo), Greg Van Avermaet (2017, three-up sprint), Michal Kwiatkowski (2016, two-up sprint), Geraint Thomas (2015, solo), Peter Sagan (2014, four-up sprint), Fabian Cancellara (2013, solo), and Tom Boonen (2012, bunch sprint). That latter win was an anomaly, as bunch sprints rarely occur in the E3.
Van Aert could send Flemish fans into a cycling frenzy by winning the race for the third time, joining the likes of Fabian Cancellara (2010, 2011, 2013) and Jan Raas (1979, 1980, 1981). Rik Van Looy won the E3 four times (1964, 1965, 1966, 1969), and Tom Boonen holds the record with five victories (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012).
Favourites E3 Saxo Classic 2024
**** Mathieu van der Poel
*** Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Michael Matthews
** Matteo Jorgenson, Jasper Stuyven, Filippo Ganna
* Dylan van Baarle, Matej Mohoric, Stefan Küng, Biniam Girmay