Results E3 Saxo Classic 2026 | Incredible finale! Mathieu van der Poel completes hat-trick in the most dramatic style, surviving late four-man chase
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel has won the E3 Saxo Classic for the third year in a row, holding off a four-man chase after a long-range solo that came within seconds of being undone in the closing kilometres.
The Dutchman launched his decisive move on the Paterberg and spent more than 40 kilometres alone at the front, but what followed was far from a controlled ride to the finish.
Instead, a late surge from behind turned the finale into a tense, tactical standoff that was only resolved in the final metres.
Earlier in the day, a six-man breakaway featuring Stan Dewulf, Bastien Tronchon, Luke Durbridge, Sven Erik Bystrom, Nickolas Zukowsky and Michiel Lambrecht had established a steady advantage, with the peloton content to allow the move as the race built towards its decisive phase.
Paterberg attack blows race apart
As expected, the race ignited on the Taaienberg. The first real selection formed there, with Van der Poel among those driving the pace before pushing on to bridge across to the leaders. From that moment, the race quickly escalated.
After making contact with the front group, Van der Poel wasted little time. On the Paterberg, he delivered the defining move of the race, accelerating sharply on the steepest section to distance Dewulf, the last rider able to follow. That attack proved decisive.
With the race fragmented behind and no immediate organisation in the peloton, Van der Poel committed fully to his solo effort, building an advantage over the Oude Kwaremont as the chasing groups struggled to organise themselves.
Late chase almost turns the race on its head
For much of the final phase, Van der Poel appeared to be in control. But inside the final 10 kilometres, the race shifted dramatically. A four-man chasing group formed behind, with Florian Vermeersch doing much of the work alongside Per Strand Hagenes, Jonas Abrahamsen and Stan Dewulf. The cooperation initially clicked, and the gap began to fall quickly.
From over half a minute, the deficit dropped to 20 seconds, then to single digits. With just a few kilometres remaining, Van der Poel was no longer clear. He was within sight, then within reach, his advantage reduced to little more than a handful of seconds as the elastic stretched to its absolute limit.
For a moment, the catch looked inevitable. But at the critical point, the chase faltered. As the four riders closed in, hesitation crept into their effort. The pace dipped, the cooperation broke down, and the final metres proved the hardest to close.
Van der Poel, completely spent, continued to push forward, holding onto the narrowest of margins as the line approached.
Behind, the chasers were left to look at each other. That brief hesitation proved decisive.
After more than 40 kilometres alone at the front, Van der Poel held on by seconds to seal victory and complete a remarkable hat-trick in Harelbeke.
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Carlos Silva is a writer for CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
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- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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