E3 Saxo Classic – LIVE

This is the peloton, being led by Crimson Bull-Bora Hansgrohe.  They are not permitting the Van Aert group to return again. 

This might already be probably deadly information for Van Aert’s hopes of profitable this race, as that group continues to be over 2 minutes adrift. 

It appears Van Aert is likely one of the riders caught out within the cut up, and caught within the group behind!

They’re over the Katteberg. This one’s remoted from the others on the route, and the remainder of the bergs shall be tackled later within the race in nearer succession.

KATTEBERG

Time for the primary cobbled climb of the race, the Katteberg.

Oliver Knight of Cofidis did have a small lead on the entrance of the race, however has been introduced again.

180KM TO GO

Now the hole between the 2 teams has grown once more, to over two minutes. It may very well be that the race would not come again collectively. 

The hole between the 2 teams has come down, to about 1 minute.

190KM TO GO

There’s additionally a considerable hole between the 2 teams, of about 1-30.

There’s been a cut up within the peloton.

The aforementioned crash was brutal for Soudal-QuickStep – all three of their riders concerned have deserted.

Jannik Steimle briefly had a small lead, however he is now been introduced again by the peloton, that is still collectively. 

This is the aftermath of that incident, with Gelders sat on the bottom.

There’s been a crash within the peloton. Three Soudal QuickStep riders have been concerned – Gil Gelders, Jordi Warlop and Dries Van Gestel. Picnic PostNL’s Kevin Vermaerke was additionally down.

The scene at first – gray, however not wet.

200KM TO GO

We have been racing for almost 10km now however nonetheless no signal of a break forming.

We’re a couple of kilometres into the race and no break has gone clear but.

The very first thing to report is that, opposite to climate forecasts, it’s not raining – not less than for now.

209KM TO GO

They usually’re off!

Van der Poel, Van Aert are within the neutralised one with the remainder of the sector, and shall be racing correctly imminently.

The opposite main contender for the win right now is Wout van Aert, who gained right here in each 2023 and 2022. The Belgian’s type has not been on the degree of Van der Poel’s this yr, however we will count on him to be improved as he returns following a number of weeks off racing to coach. 

The stand out favorite for the win right now is Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman triumphed right here final yr, simply as he did at virtually each cobbled traditional he raced final Dash, and already has two wins out of two in his first classics appearances of this spring – together with final weekend’s sensational Milan-San Remo.

But this race is not any mere heat as much as the Tour of Flanders, however one in all nice status by itself phrases. Other than Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and probably Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, it’s the most important males’s traditional of the season thus far.

The E3 Saxo Basic can be perfect preparation for the Tour of Flanders. It’s like a mini model of that race, not fairly as lengthy, however taking in lots of the identical bergs – together with, most pertinent of all, the now well-known Oude Kwaremont / Paterberg double.

That is the day the place anticipation for the Tour of Flanders actually hots up. Whereas the main focus within the spring classics up till now had principally been in Italy for Milan-San Remo and Strade Bianche, now the eye turns to Belgium, as a lot of the prime contenders for the Ronde face off on the cobblestones.

Howdy and welcome to the 2025 E3 Saxo Basic!