Startlist E3 Saxo Classic | Riders: Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen lead the way; But no Pogacar or Van Aert

Cycling
Sunday, 22 March 2026 at 21:30
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On the 27th of March the peloton takes on the E3 Saxo Classic, nicknamed often as the 'mini Tour of Flanders'. With the peloton taking on the famous Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont, the races comes as the most similar event to the first cobbled monument and is a key part of most riders' spring campaign. We take a look at its startlist.
The race's first edition was back in 1958, won by Armand Desmet. Belgian legend Rik van Looy won it four times between 1964 and 1968 and right after Roger de Vlaeminck also left his mark in the race's history. E3 doesn't pack the palmarès of the Tour of Flanders, but isn't far behind, being so competitive that despite several attempts, Eddy Merckx has never managed to win it.
Some sprinters have also managed to leave their mark here, including Mario Cippolini in 1993 and of course Peter Sagan more recently. But the Flandrien legends were all present and winning throughout the generations: Johan Museeuw, Peter van Petegem, Tom Boonen (four consecutive wins from 2004 to 2007)... Fabian Cancellara won it three times; and the likes of Geraint Thomas, Michal Kwiatkowski, Greg van Avermaet, Niki Terpstra, Zdenek Stybar, Kasper Asgreen have also marked their names in the race.
In 2022 and 2023 Wout Van Aert won it, in the latter taking perhaps his best win over Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar directly. However in the last two years van der Poel took uncontested wins - in 2025 he won with a long-range solo attack, beating Mads Pedersen.
Download the startlist in A4. Tadej Pogacar is focusing on the Tour of Flanders exclusively when it comes to the Flandrien classics whilst Wout Van Aert is limiting his racing schedule and not taking on the 'mini Flanders'.
Hence it will be a battle between Mathieu van der Poel - the man to beat and two-time defending champion; Mads Pedersen who has here his key test ahead of the cobbled monuments to learn his current form; and several other specialists.

Startlist E3 Saxo Classic 2026 

Decathlon CMA CGM Team
Bissegger, Stefan
Bol, Cees
Chamberlain, Oscar
Dewulf, Stan
Naesen, Oliver
Pedersen, Rasmus Søjberg
Pestel, Sander De
INEOS Grenadiers
Heiduk, Kim
Sheffield, Magnus
Shmidt, Artem
Swift, Connor
Tarling, Josh
Turner, Ben
Watson, Sam
Tudor Pro Cycling Team
Haller, Marco
Kluckers, Arthur
Mozzato, Luca
Pluimers, Rick
Trentin, Matteo
Zijlaard, Maikel
Bahrain Victorious
Eržen, Zak
Gradek, Kamil
Mohorič, Matej
Segaert, Alec
Skerl, Daniel
Stockwell, Oliver
Valter, Attila
Uno-X Mobility
Abrahamsen, Jonas
Blume Levy, William
Bystrøm, Sven Erik
Hoelgaard, Markus
Ingebrigtsen, Storm
Løland, Sakarias Koller
Tiller, Rasmus
NSN Cycling Team
Asbroeck, Tom Van
Askey, Lewis
Boivin, Guillaume
Girmay, Biniam
Louvel, Matîs
Sheehan, Riley
Tricht, Floris Van
Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
Frison, Frederik
Gendt, Aimé De
Liepiņš, Emīls
Małecki, Kamil
Moer, Brent Van
Wright, Fred
Zukowsky, Nick
Lidl - Trek
Andersen, Søren Kragh
Norsgaard, Mathias
Pedersen, Mads
Skujiņš, Toms
Söderqvist, Jakob
Vacek, Mathias
Vergaerde, Otto
Alpecin - Premier Tech
Bayer, Tobias
Del Grosso, Tibor
Dillier, Silvan
Gogl, Michael
Planckaert, Edward
Poel, Mathieu van der
Riesebeek, Oscar
Team Jayco AlUla
Bondt, Dries De
Capiot, Amaury
Donaldson, Robert
Durbridge, Luke
Krijnsen, Jelte
Pooter, Dries De
Sütterlin, Jasha
Burgos Burpellet BH
Alleno, Clément
Alvarez, Rodrigo
Cavia, Daniel
De La Calle, Hugo
Fagúndez, Eric
Kmínek, Vojtěch
Quartucci, Lorenzo
Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
Dijke, Mick van
Dijke, Tim van
Drizners, Jarrad
Marit, Arne
Pithie, Laurence
Tratnik, Jan
Vermeersch, Gianni
XDS Astana Team
Bettiol, Alberto
Fedorov, Yevgeniy
Gate, Aaron
Gonov, Lev
Livyns, Arjen
Romele, Alessandro
Teunissen, Mike
Team Flanders - Baloise
Deweirdt, Siebe
Hemelen, Vincent Van
Lambrecht, Michiel
Lanhove, Milan
Maris, Elias
Thonnon, Senne
Vandenstorme, Dylan
EF Education - EasyPost
Albanese, Vincenzo
Asgreen, Kasper
Berg, Marijn van den
Honoré, Mikkel
Lamperti, Luke
Simmons, Colby
Valgren, Michael
Team Picnic PostNL
Biesterbos, Frits
Broek, Frank van den
Corkery, Dillon
Haquin, Henri-François
Jong, Timo de
Koerdt, Bjoern
Peace, Oliver
Lotto - Intermarché
Berckmoes, Jenno
Boven, Luca Van
Braet, Vito
Grignard, Sébastien
Grisel, Matys
Rutsch, Jonas
Sintmaartensdijk, Roel van
Team Visma - Lease a Bike
Affini, Edoardo
Doull, Owain
Fiorelli, Filippo
Hagenes, Per Strand
Kielich, Timo
Laporte, Christophe
Zingle, Axel
Soudal - Quick-Step
Baarle, Dylan van
Gestel, Dries Van
Pedersen, Casper
Reinderink, Pepijn
Stuyven, Jasper
Vervaeke, Louis
Vervenne, Jonathan
UAE Team Emirates XRG
Herregodts, Rune
Johansen, Julius
Oliveira, Rui
Politt, Nils
Vermeersch, Florian
Groupama - FDJ United
Grégoire, Romain
Gruel, Thibaud
Huens, Axel
Jacobs, Johan
Madouas, Valentin
Russo, Clément
Tronchon, Bastien
Movistar Team
Adrià, Roger
Aular, Orluis
Barrenetxea, Jon
Canal, Carlos
García Cortina, Iván
Milesi, Lorenzo
Moro, Manlio
TotalEnergies
Bonnet, Thomas
Boulahoite, Rayan
Brunel, Alexys
Dujardin, Sandy
Gachignard, Thomas
Turgis, Anthony
Vadic, Baptiste
Unibet Rose Rockets
Augé, Ronan
Geleijn, Owen
Johannink, Jelle
Loockx, Lander
Meris, Sergio
Toupalík, Adam
Vries, Hartthijs de
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