Wout van Aert wins exciting E3 Saxo Classic in Harelbeke
After a lightning-fast opening hour, five riders were in the lead, but they never got more than three minutes.
Van der Poel threw a serious bomb with a solid attack on the Taaienberg. immediately the end of those first refugees. What followed was a real battle of wear and a fusion into a group of about 20 men.
Big three are gone
But it never stopped after that. A real split followed on the Paterberg: Van Aert, van der Poel and Pogacar headed together towards Harelbeke, the podium already seemed to be set. The three had more than a minute ahead and they would not relinquish it: they crossed the finish line together.
In Harelbeke, Pogacar handed out a few small shots, but the race still ended in a sprint: Van Aert took the victory. van der Poel took second place, Pogacar had to be satisfied with third place.
“The past few weeks have not always been as I am used to, so this victory is extra gratifying,” says van Aert. Next week is the Tour of Flanders: they say I have to win it, so let’s do that, right?”