E3 Harelbeke race guide
Last Updated: 25/03/16 4:24pm
Read our bite-size preview as we go in search of back-to-back titles at this Belgian semi Classic.
E3 Harelbeke has been christened a 'mini Tour of Flanders' and is seen as a barometer of form ahead of the second Monument of the season, but the semi-Classic is a coveted prize in its own right.
We're sending a strong team to try and retain the title Geraint Thomas won in 2015 and hope to perform well on Belgium's iconic cobbled roads.
Our line-up
With Geraint racing at the Volta a Catalunya, Ian Stannard, Michal Kwiatkowski and Luke Rowe lead a strong team heading to Belgium. All three played big roles in Ben Swift's recent second place at Milan-San Remo, while Andy Fenn, Michal Golas, Christian Knees, Salvatore Puccio and Elia Viviani will provide plenty of horsepower.
Riders to watch
Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) has dominated the race in recent years with three wins and he looks like one of the favourites on the back of his impressive Strade Bianche win. Tom Boonen, who has won the event five times, will form part of a strong Etixx - Quick-Step line up, while Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) remains in the hunt for his first win in the rainbow jersey. Another contender is the in-form Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) who has looked strong this season, claiming the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad title ahead of Sagan, and winning Tirreno-Adriatico.
Race overview
The race has been shortened slightly this year, from 215km to 210km, and there are 15 climbs, two down on 2015 - but E3 still poses a stiff challenge.
The day will hot up at the 90km mark when the riders hit La Houpe, the longest climb of the race, and that's followed by several serious climbs where the peloton is likely to slim down. The Paterberg contains sections at 20% and is followed by the brutal Oude Kwaremont at the 168km mark, where attacks are likely to fire before a slightly easier 40km run to the finish.
Key section
Oude Kwaremont is the third-last climb of the race but has been pivotal in recent years, with Geraint's attack there in 2015 proving decisive. A 2.2km ascent at 4.2% - with sections at 11% - is sure to be exciting.
Our history
Geraint's win was our first at E3 last year, although we have stood on the podium a further three times.
The Welshman attacked on the Kwaremont and went clear, with Sagan and Zdenek Stybar the only riders able to stick with him. Geraint jumped again close to the finish, his two breakaway companions couldn't respond, and he eventually crossed the line with a 25-second advantage.
Geraint had come close to claiming the title in 2014, finishing third, while Bernhard Eisel and Juan Antonio Flecha also came third in 2012 and 2010 respectively. Eisel sprinted onto the podium, beaten by Boonen and Oscar Freire, while Flecha formed a three-man break with Boonen and Cancellara with 40km to go and it stayed the distance - but the Spaniard couldn't overhaul the two Classics powerhouses in the final sprint.
TV coverage
Live coverage starts from 2pm on British Eurosport 2.
