64 kilometers from the finish, Mathieu van Der Poel decided to attack. And he left everyone in the rearview mirror on Friday at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic 2026. He quickly gained a one-minute lead and his pursuers seemed helpless. But after the number of the 2023 world champion in the Paterberg, his lead melted like snow in the sun upon arriving in Harelbeke (Flanders, Belgium).
In the end, Van der Poel wins
2 kilometers from the finish, he only had a 5 second lead… before he put it back on track to win. Vermeersch asked for the relay behind him but no one wanted to cooperate, much to Van der Poel’s delight. On the cobbles of Harelbeck, the Dutchman raced towards victory and raised his arms at the end of a breathtaking scenario. He kept the competition at bay and was able to win, one week before the Tour of Flanders, by drawing on his resources. He will find a certain Tadej Pogacar facing him.
The E3 Saxo Bank Classic 2026 rankings
- Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
- Per Strand Hagenes (Visma Lease a Bike)
- Florian Vermeersch (Team UAE Emirates)
- Stan Dewulf (Decathlon CMA CGM Team)
- Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility)
- Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) à 24″
- Christophe Laporte (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) at 24″
- Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) à 24″
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) à 24″
- Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) at 24″
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