Filippo Ganna ready for Mathieu van der Poel rematch at E3 Saxo Classic: "For sure today will be a good test of effort"
Cycling
Just one week after his impressive ride at Milano-Sanremo, Filippo
Ganna is back in action today at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic. Speaking to Cycling
Pro Net ahead of the race, the Italian star acknowledged that the previous
weekend had taken a toll on his legs.
"Yes I was a little tired, I'm telling the truth,"
Ganna admitted when asked about how he had balanced recovery and preparation
over the last seven days. "But in the end we managed to come back here to
Belgium after a few years. Always nice to see the atmosphere of Belgium, the
welcoming public."
Having not raced on the Belgian cobbles in recent years, the
INEOS Grenadiers rider is relishing the opportunity to be back in one of
cycling’s heartlands. The E3 Classic is known as a key dress rehearsal for the
Tour of Flanders and a serious test of form and durability on the cobbled
climbs of Flanders.
"Come on, let's hope it can be a good day and tonight
we'll see who will cross the finish line first," Ganna said
optimistically.
Asked about who might shape the day’s action (particularly
the influence of Mathieu van der Poel, who is fresh off his Milano-Sanremo
victory) Ganna offered a measured response.
"I think that in any case the race is tough and the riders
will do it tough, so let's see what can happen," he said. "For sure
today will be a good test of effort."
Read also
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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