Mathieu van der Poel Triumphs Over Wout van Aert in Grueling E3 Saxo Classic
Once again, the 2024 E3 Saxo Classic proved to be a thrilling showcase of what is to come at next Sunday’s Tour of Flanders (March 31). As riders set out on the 207.6-kilometer route through the cobbled climbs of Flanders, anticipation was high for the clash between the titans in last year’s podium: Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). The third leg of 2023’s breakaway, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), was absent from this year’s race.
With 10 kilometers left of the cobbled classic, the race had already been won by the reigning World Champion, Van der Poel, with a callous attack 43 kiolmeters from the finish line. At 1:31 behind, second place was Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), followed by Van Aert who basically gave up second place to his Belgian compatriot.
“I’m super happy to win it, especially the way I won it,” said Van der Poel in the post-race interview. “I didn’t really expect it. I thought I needed a few more races to get to this level. But I hope I get to recover from this one before Sunday because I have to say I was pretty cooked in the end.”
Van der Poel, sporting a new haircut (goodbye, mullet) and black shorts (due to the wet conditions we imagine), achieved a feat his father, Adrie van der Poel, never managed at the E3 Saxo Classic.
Last year’s winner had a poorly time crash on one of the cobbled climbs just as his nemesis launched one of his attacks. “It was kind of a stupid crash and very unfortunate for the rest of the race,” said Van Aert. “The cobbles scrapped hard on my right side. And now, after the race, I start to feel some pain, so I’ll need to get checked.”
And notably, for American fans, Matteo Jorgenson of Visma-Lease-a-Bike finished in fifth place 1:50” behind the World Champion.
How the race unfolded
The race started with an intense pace, with the peloton covering over 36 kilometers within the first hour, averaging a blistering 51.3 kph. Early attempts at breakaways were swiftly neutralized, as the peloton remained tightly packed.
On the Katteberg, a 12-man breakaway emerged, signaling the start of the day’s first significant move. Despite their efforts, the breakaway’s advantage remained tenuous, with the peloton keeping a tight leash.
Van der Poel and Van Aert showcased their strength and tactical prowess by positioning themselves at the front of the peloton from early on.
Determined to seize control of the race, Van der Poel launched a solo attack at 40 kiolmeters to go on the Oude Kruisberg, while behind him, Van Aert recovered from a crash on the cobbled climb. Then, a select group of contenders, including Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Jorgenson, fought to bridge the gap, while others, like Jhonatan Narvaez (INEOS Grenadiers) and Oier Lazkano (Movistar), launched their own attacks.
As the race entered its final decisive kilometers, the tension was palpable as weather conditions worsened. With Van der Poel maintaining his solo lead, the chase behind him intensified, particularly after Van Aert put on a remarkable recovery following his earlier crash.
Unfazed by the rain and poor visibility, the World Champion powered ahead with a lead of over a minute with just 20 kilometers remaining. Meanwhile, Van Aert narrowed the gap to just 35 seconds, after recovering from his tumble and positioning himself in second place in a solo chase.
As the riders tackled the final climbs, including the challenging Tiegemberg, Van der Poel maintained his advantage despite Van Aert’s effort to bridge the gap. In the chase group, Narvaez, Stuyven, Jorgenson, and others pushed to minimize the time difference, but the gap to the Dutch proved too substantial.
In the final moments of the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, Van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck sealed a glorious victory, crossing the finish line solo. Behind him, Van Aert and Stuyven vied for second and third positions under the flamme rouge. Van Aert gave up second place to Stuyven and finished third on the day.
Top 10 Results 2024 E3 Saxo Classic
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4:39'15"
Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) +1'31"
Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease-a-Bike) +1'34"
Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) +1'48"
Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease-a-Bike) +1'50"
Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) +1'52"
Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) +2'48"
Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek)
Vincenzo Albanese (Arkea-B&B Hotels)
Alex Kirsch (LUX) Lidl-Trek, all S.T.
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