E3 Saxo Classic 2026 | Van der Poel lines up, but Pogacar, Ganna, Van Aert and Pidcock are absent for now

A quick look at the recent E3 Saxo Classic honours list shows nothing but world-class winners. In the early 2010s, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara repeatedly shared the spoils. After that came three-time world champion Peter Sagan in 2014, Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas in 2015, world champion Michał Kwiatkowski in 2016 and Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet in 2017, followed by more Classics heavyweights such as Niki Terpstra, Kasper Asgreen, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel.

Last season, the E3 Saxo Classic again ended with a Mathieu van der Poel victory for the second year running. The Dutchman rode clear on his own and eventually crossed the line in Harelbeke with a one-minute advantage over runner-up Mads Pedersen. Both men are, as things stand, expected back on the start line this year.

2025 Mathieu van der Poel
2024 Mathieu van der Poel
2023 Wout van Aert
2022 Wout van Aert
2021 Kasper Asgreen
2020 Not ridden
2019 Zdenek Stybar
2018 Niki Terpstra
2017 Greg Van Avermaet
2016 Michal Kwiatkowski

The E3 Saxo Classic is often referred to as a mini Tour of Flanders, and the route is a big reason why. At 208 kilometres, it is around 63 kilometres shorter than De Ronde, but the decisive selection is usually made on the same climbs, with the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont again playing a key role.

The E3 Saxo Classic is often referred to as a mini Tour of Flanders, and the route is a big reason why. At 208 kilometres, it is around 63 kilometres shorter than De Ronde, but the decisive selection is usually made on the same climbs, with the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont again playing a key role.

The Taaienberg, after just over 137 kilometres, has traditionally provided the first major split. In the Tom Boonen era, the Belgian often launched his first serious move there, and today’s big names know that climb just as well. This year, however, an additional major challenge has been added before that point.

Just like in the Tour of Flanders, the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont are likely to prove decisive. In De Ronde, riders take on both climbs three times, and from this year the E3 Saxo Classic also becomes more demanding. More demanding still, in fact, because instead of crossing the Kwaremont once, the riders will now tackle it twice.

The first passage comes after 121 kilometres, before the riders return to one of the best-known climbs in the Flemish Ardennes shortly after the Paterberg. After that, only the Karnemelkbeekstraat, also known as the E3 Col, and the Tiegemberg remain in the final 40 kilometres into Harelbeke, where in recent years the race has often already been decided.

Weather
Weather conditions are expected to be on the chilly side for Friday, with temperatures around 9°C in the Low Countries, which could influence how the race unfolds. It should stay dry, while the wind in the final section back towards Harelbeke appears to be a slight headwind at around force 2 on the Beaufort scale.

Times
Start: 12:45 PM local time
Finish: approximately 5 PM local time

The standout favourite for the E3 Saxo Classic is Mathieu van der Poel, who won the last two editions of the Belgian Classic for Alpecin. The Dutchman showed at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that he is the best uphill on the cobbles, especially when riders such as Tadej Pogacar, who will only return later in the Flemish block, Wout van Aert, who is opting for extra rest, and Tom Pidcock, who is racing in Catalunya, are not on the start line.

Van der Poel will be supported in the Flemish Ardennes by, among others, Tibor Del Grosso and Edward Planckaert, although the past few seasons have shown that the hilly section is so demanding that he can make the difference entirely on his own. With an extra passage of the Oude Kwaremont added this year, that certainly has not become any less true.

Van der Poel will be supported in the Flemish Ardennes by, among others, Tibor Del Grosso and Edward Planckaert, although the past few seasons have shown that the hilly section is so demanding that he can make the difference entirely on his own. With an extra passage of the Oude Kwaremont added this year, that certainly has not become any less true.

Lidl-Trek came closest to Van der Poel in both 2024 and 2025. In 2024, Jasper Stuyven, now an outsider for Soudal Quick-Step, finished second; last year it was Mads Pedersen. The Dane returned to racing last Saturday after a broken collarbone and wrist and immediately took fourth place in Milan-Sanremo, which sports director Gregory Rast said bodes well for the Flemish races. Mathias Vacek is the team’s backup option and possible co-leader.

Visma | Lease a Bike will most likely line up without Wout van Aert and Matthew Brennan, which on paper leaves Christophe Laporte as their main card. The Frenchman already finished fourth at Omloop and, after illness ruled him out of Le Samyn, he also looked sharp in Sanremo. Back in 2024, he finished second behind team leader Van Aert after the two crossed the line together.

Beyond Van der Poel, there is a broad range of possible contenders. Matej Mohoric, Oliver Naesen, Anthony Turgis, Matteo Trentin, Mike Teunissen, Biniam Girmay, Dylan van Baarle, Fred Wright, Kasper Asgreen and Michael Valgren all belong to the experienced group who could shape the race.

Then there are riders such as Joshua Tarling, Ben Turner, Jonas Abrahamsen, Valentin Madouas and debutant Romain Grégoire. Jenno Berckmoes is also worth noting as Lotto-Intermarché’s leader in the absence of Arnaud De Lie. Filippo Ganna, meanwhile, is not yet on the INEOS Grenadiers list.

Top favorite: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Outsiders: Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike), Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Jasper Stuvyen (Soudal Quick-Step) and Florian Vermeersch (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Long shots: Joshua Tarling (INEOS Grenadiers), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), Matej Mohoric (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost) Laurence Pithie, Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Dylan van Baarle (Soudal Quick-Step), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Mike Teunissen (XDS-Astana) and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)

Anyone wanting to watch the E3 Saxo Classic live on Friday will need to tune in to VTM in Belgium and Eurosport in the Netherlands, via the main channel and HBO Max. Eurosport 1 is expected to join the action only after the Volta a Catalunya, from around 04:00 PM, although online coverage appears likely to begin from 03:00 PM.