ANALYSIS | Exploring the history of the E3 Saxo Bank Classic: How did the ‘little Tour of Flanders’ become a classic in its own right?

In the heart of Flemish cycling country, where cobbles rattle bones and short, sharp climbs decide legacies, the E3 Saxo Bank Classic stands as both a cultural celebration and a key proving ground for the sport’s greatest one-day specialists.

Though younger than many of cycling’s Spring Monuments, the race (held annually in the town of Harelbeke) has evolved from humble beginnings in 1958 into a modern WorldTour staple, often dubbed the “little Tour of Flanders.”

Yet despite changes in names, sponsors, and even race dates, E3 Harelbeke, as locals still fondly call it, has remained deeply rooted in regional pride, tradition, and tactical brilliance.

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From E3 highway to cycling classic

The race’s unusual name has nothing to do with a title sponsor or race format. Originally known as Harelbeke–Antwerp–Harelbeke, the first edition in 1958 followed a simple out-and-back route.

Its identity took shape in the 1960s when organisers renamed it E3-Prijs Harelbeke, referencing the European Route E3, a major highway that once stretched from Lisbon to Stockholm and passed near Harelbeke. Although that road is now designated the E17 in Belgium, the "E3" name stuck, and has since become synonymous with cobbled brilliance.

Early winners quickly validated the race’s competitive stature. Rik Van Looy, one of Belgium’s all-time greats, won four editions in the 1960s, helping establish the race’s reputation as a launchpad for classics greatness. Future Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix winners like Jan Raas, Johan Museeuw, and Andrei Tchmil all claimed victories here early in their careers. Even Mario Cipollini, a sprinter best known for bunch finishes, triumphed in 1993, an outlier result that highlighted the race’s tactical unpredictability.

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E3’s changing names

Through sponsorship cycles and branding shifts, from E3-Prijs Vlaanderen to E3 BinckBank Classic and now E3 Saxo Bank Classic, the race has retained its Harelbeke core. The Grote Markt, Harelbeke’s central square, has remained both start and finish for over six decades. And despite joining the UCI WorldTour in 2012, the race has kept a distinctly local feel. It is still organised not by the larger Flanders Classics group but by Hand in Hand vzw, a local committee, further enhancing its homegrown charm.

One change that proved consequential came in 2012, when the race shifted from its traditional Saturday slot to Friday, giving riders a vital recovery day before Gent–Wevelgem and reshaping the Spring Classics calendar.

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To locals, E3 is more than a race, it’s an annual celebration. Held each March, it marks the start of Flemish Cycling Week, igniting the region’s passion ahead of the Ronde van Vlaanderen. On race day, Harelbeke’s schools and shops often shut early as residents line the streets. Families picnic roadside, beer tents pop up along cobbled climbs, and Flemish flags flutter from village windows.

Fans enjoy remarkably close access to the stars. Riders and teams gather in the town square without heavy barricading, offering fans the rare chance to chat with favourites or grab a selfie. One writer called it “charmingly mom-and-pop,” a sharp contrast to the polished spectacle of other WorldTour events.

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This mix of world-class racing and intimate atmosphere makes E3 beloved across generations—and a source of local pride. The race has even responded cheekily to changes in other races: in 2012, when the Tour of Flanders controversially dropped the iconic Muur van Geraardsbergen, E3 added it in response, preserving the region’s traditions.

Legendary racers

The winner’s list is a who’s-who of classics royalty. After Van Looy’s early dominance, the 1970s and ’80s saw victories by Jan Raas (three in a row), Jan Bogaert and Willima Tackaert.

The 1990s introduced a new generation. Johan Museeuw won in 1992 before conquering Flanders and Roubaix in future years. Tchmil’s 1994 win hinted at future Monument glory. Cipollini’s 1993 sprint win remains a curiosity, a rare triumph for a pure sprinter in a race now defined by its punishing bergs.

Van der Poel and Van Aert will be in action this Friday

But it was the 2000s that turned E3 into a spring battlefield. Tom Boonen, Flanders’ rock star, made the Taaienberg climb his personal launching pad, so much so that fans dubbed it the “Boonenberg.” He won four consecutive editions from 2004 to 2007, and added a record fifth win in 2012 while wearing the rainbow jersey.

His great rival, Fabian Cancellara, added three wins of his own, including a famous 35 km solo break in 2013 that showcased his unmatched power. Their duels elevated the race and gave fans unforgettable moments.

Modern classics

Recent years have seen an expansion of contenders and even more thrilling editions. Peter Sagan, Geraint Thomas, Greg Van Avermaet, Michał Kwiatkowski, and Niki Terpstra have all tasted victory here, each bringing different strengths: sprints, solo attacks, late breaks.

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The 2021 edition was a tactical masterpiece by Deceuninck–Quick-Step. They sent multiple riders up the road on the Taaienberg and placed four in the lead group. When Kasper Asgreen attacked late, his teammates covered every chase. The “Wolfpack” strategy worked to perfection.

In 2022, Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte pulled off a masterclass of their own for Jumbo-Visma. Attacking with 40 km to go, they rode to Harelbeke as a two-man unit, crossing the line together with a 1:34 gap to third place, a show of dominance rarely seen.

Then came 2023, arguably the race’s greatest edition. For the first time, cycling’s big three (Van Aert, Van der Poel, and Pogacar) battled head-to-head in E3. They broke clear with over 80 km to go and delivered an epic duel. Van Aert narrowly won the sprint in Harelbeke, but all three crossed the line nearly two minutes ahead of their nearest rivals.

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What’s even more impressive from the 2023 edition is that Van Aert was very nearly distanced by Pogacar and Van der Poel earlier in the race. This edition didn't just thrill fans; it cemented E3’s status as the ultimate dress rehearsal for De Ronde.

Last year, it was Mathieu van der Poel who came out on top in the rainbow jersey as Wout van Aert suffered a crash. This was a sign of things to come, as Van der Poel went on to demolish the field at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, whilst Van Aert never made it to the monuments after crashing hard the following week at Dwars Door Vlaanderen.

The Flanders prequel

Strategically, E3 serves as one of the final litmus test for the Tour of Flanders. Held nine days prior, it mirrors the terrain, intensity, and chaos of De Ronde, but in a slightly shorter format (200 km vs. Flanders’ 270+). With 12–17 climbs, most within the final 90 km, and a flat run-in from the final Tiegemberg, it offers teams and riders a near-perfect simulation.

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The parallels are so strong that E3 winners often go on to dominate in Flanders. Boonen, Cancellara, Van Avermaet, and Van der Poel have all doubled up. For teams, a strong E3 can validate form, tactics, and equipment choices, or expose flaws to fix before the Monument.

This alignment explains why the Flemish press call E3 “de kleine Ronde van Vlaanderen,” the little Tour of Flanders. And for fans, it’s a tantalising preview of what’s to come.

Race tactics

E3 demands a hybrid skillset: cobble-handling power, uphill punch, and strategic finesse. The shorter distance compared to Flanders often leads to earlier fireworks. Attacks on the Taaienberg are common, and often decisive.

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Winners come from varied scenarios: solo raids (Cancellara 2013), two-up battles (Kwiatkowski vs. Sagan 2016), or small group sprints (Boonen, Stybar). Unlike Paris-Roubaix, where sheer durability often wins, or Amstel Gold with its punchy finish, E3 sits between: explosive but tactical, brutal yet open.

Modern racing has further evolved E3’s dynamics. Teams like Soudal - Quick-Step and Visma treat it as a full-team effort, deploying numerical superiority. GPS recon, tire pressure science, and real-time comms are all critical, and so the race has evolved significantly.

And with wind and weather often adding chaos, it remains a race where instinct and local knowledge matter as much as wattage.

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From its roots as a quirky highway-inspired race to its status as a modern WorldTour heavyweight, the E3 Saxo Bank Classic has carved a unique space in the cycling calendar. It blends the familiarity of the cobbled classics with a distinct character: part Flanders simulation, part local celebration, and part tactical chess match.

It has produced legends, surprises, and some of the best racing of the past two decades. Yet it still retains the grassroots, Flemish soul that makes spring racing in Belgium so special.

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More than just a “warm-up” or a “mini Ronde,” E3 is now a classic in its own right, where history, community, and sporting excellence meet every March on the road to Harelbeke.

So who will take the victory this Friday? Will Mathieu van der Poel continue his incredible form from Milano-Sanremo, or will Wout van Aert have an answer to the King of the Cobbles? Whatever the result, you can be sure that the outcome will play a huge role in the season to come.

Bring on the action this Friday. It could be a thriller.

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