Michel Wuyts on E3 Harelbeke poster: “Never too old for a race”
Walking frame on race steering wheel
E3 celebrates its 65ste birthday, just like Michel Wuyts, who had to retire at the VRT, but who is now working at VTM. Wuyts pushes a walking frame on which a steering wheel is mounted. Another striking promotion campaign by E3 Harelbeke.
The 65th edition of the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, the E3 Harelbeke, was presented in Cultural Center Het Spoor on Friday 25 March. The route remains, except for a few minor changes, identical to that of the previous edition.
Again with public and VIPs
That means 17 slopes with some tough cobblestone zones spread over 204 kilometers of course. But above all, there can be organized again with the public and the much-needed VIPs. A relief for the people of Hand in Hand, who can once again bring in a lot of income.
“It is looking better and better in terms of our sponsorship program. We are organizing our course again as it was before the corona pandemic. We are going for a normal experience on Friday 25 March. Our course is the only one of its format that is still completely independent. And we are going to unpack during the presentation of the riders with a stunt that has never been seen in our country. It’s an act from England, I don’t want to say more about it. Finally we can unpack again in front of a live audience in the E3 Arena. But the presentation of the riders will also be digitally available through various channels,” reports press officer Jacques Coessens.
The VIP event will also take place as before. “We welcome no less than 3,150 VIPs. Some of them will take place in the 56 buses that we provide. This way they have the opportunity to observe the developments in the course along the course. Also this year we have different locations provided, some of which are star restaurants. All our VIP packages went out in a fast train,” reports Guy Hannosette.
trail
The course will remain almost identical to that of last year. “In 2014 we took the decision to redesign our course. That turned out to be a direct hit and that is why we are sticking to that concept. Our motto ‘always course’ is certainly reflected on our course. War can be started from the start A long breakdown can be set up, but in the end it is always the strongest who come up in our final. And our final is about 80 kilometers long,” said race director Johan Wastyn.
Last year the overall victory went to Kasper Asgreen, who would later also win the Tour of Flanders. The Dane from Quick-Step won in Harelbeke ahead of his French teammate Florian Sénéchal and the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel. Oliver Naesen was fourth. The trophy for the winner this year again comes from Marc Vanhecke. It has become a work of art with 25 riders, one of whom, the winner, raises his hands in the air and was given the name ‘The peloton’.