The Belgian Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) revalidated the title in a big way in the 65th edition of the E3 Saxo Classic played over 204.1 km starting and finishing in Harelbeke, a town in West Flanders, after a duel of giants against the Dutch Mathieu Van der Poel and the Slovenian Tadj Pogacar.
Spectacular duel between the "three tenors" of current cycling throughout the last 60 km of the route, where the attacks and the fight led to a sprint that Van Aert took, signing the champion his first victory of the season and the number 40 of his career just 9 days from the Tour of Flanders, the object of desire of all cyclists.
Van Aert was the fastest on the Harelbeke straight, where he raised his arms with a time of 4:45:13, at 42.9 km/h, leaving his great rivals, Van der Poel and Pogacar, with honey on their lips. In fourth place, the American from Movistar Matteo Jorgenson qualified, and fifth, his teammate Iván García Cortina, 44. Two top 5 finishes for the Spanish squad in a high-level race.
Huge race of current cycling figures in the surroundings of the Belgian town of Harelbeke. They were the great protagonists of the event from Van der Poel's first attack on the Taiienberg, 80 km from the finish line.
Before, there was a break of 5 at km 30 with Norsgaard (Movistar), Le Berre, O'Brien, Bonnet and Urianstad, but as the peloton approached the area of the chained heights and the cobblestones the landscape began to vary.
Van der Poel upset the order in the favorites sector. The cyclocross world champion attacked hard and far, took Van Art to the wheel, released Pogacar and ended the breakaway. Movement that forced the Slovenian to work until connecting a few km later.
A notice that cut the peloton putting about 30 riders in the lead. The attacks continued, now with Jorgenson, then with Mohoric, Kragh Andersen and Van Hooydonck. Another blow from Van der Poel neutralized the American from Movistar by selecting a vanguard with 6 men.
The great tenors, Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pogacar, accompanied by Mohoriv, Kragh Andersen and Van Hooydonck were going to play for victory. but the most powerful raised their voices with alternate clawing. Pogacar raced in the Patenberg, without getting up from the bike, without ruffling his hair, eliminating Mohoric, Van Hooydonck and Kragh Andersen.
Three stars in front, the biggest facing each other. Each one playing their tricks. Pogacar, interested in a solo outcome and to avoid a sprint outcome against two phenomena, tensed again with 40 minutes to go, at Kwaeremont, but no one gave in to the impulse of the double winner of the Tour de France.
Pogacar, Van del Poel and Van Aert in command, chasing a group joined by Cortina and Jorgenson. An advantage of more than 1 minute announced from afar that victory was ahead. Control between them, a lot of respect, and understanding to sign peace until the straight of glory and disappointment.
The moment of truth arrived and Van Aert, still unpublished in the season, grew to show that he has returned to his best level. He prevailed with authority against the winner of Milan San Remo and Paris Nice.
The 28-year-old cyclist from Herentals will ride the Ghent Wevelgem on Sunday and will reach the Tour of Flanders, the race of his loves, the one he could put in the showcase along with Milan San Remo, Amstel, Strade Bianche, the Ghent itself and the Omloop. Good prospects for an extraordinary rider who has already signed 9 stages in the Tour de France. An inexhaustible cyclist.
