Wout van Aert succeeded himself as winner in the E3 Saxo Classic. The mini version of the Tour of Flanders turned out to be a wonderful duel between the three great tenors: Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert. The latter made it in the sprint for the Dutchman and the Slovenian.
The E3 Saxo Classic in a nutshell:
- Winner of the day (1): “I just don’t need anything.” Immediately after the finish, Wout van Aert showed that the analyzes still touched him, but Van Aert answers as only a true champion does: by winning. Physically he may have been a little less than his eternal companions, but mentally he was unbeatable Van Aert refused to budge and achieved a double mental victory with his tactically perfect sprint.
- Winner of the day (2): As a cycling fan you can be one of the tenors pro, but certainly not against. Cycling is the big winner of the show that The Big Three perform time and time again and in any field.
- Losers of the day: It must not be nice for all the other riders who started in Harelbeke. These heavyweights just box in a different weight class. Out of category.
Double volley from Van der Poel
After the Poggio now the Taaienberg.
As if he wanted to appropriate that bowl too.
Mathieu van der Poel was unleashed on the traditional can opener, only Wout van Aert formulated a witty answer after a slight hesitation.
Tadej Pogacar had been surprised, but a blitzkrieg 80 kilometers from the finish was not wise, the twins judged.
A bunch of tenors returned and after some running and standing still, Søren Kragh Andersen, Nathan Van Hooydonck and Matej Mohoric forced a new split.
There was a bit of lurking, until Van der Poel fired another flare at the Stationberg.
Again Van Aert was the first playmate, Pogacar was alert enough now.
3 plus 3: the 6 finalists were known.
The rest had been weighed and found to be too light, but the masks also gradually fell off in the front.
Pogacar reigns on the Kwaremont, Van Aert at the finish
On the Paterberg, Pogacar himself was the battering ram, only Van der Poel and Van Aert remained on board.
The trio didn’t turn the light completely green yet and let the 3 released pick up, but on the Oude Kwaremont the Slovenian sang his bis number.
A vulnerable Van Aert gasped, showed a lot of character and also refused to go to the ground with a second Slovenian right.
Although he was also helped a bit when Pogacar was slowed down by a fallen motorcyclist.
At 40 kilometers from the finish, the wet dream was completely drawn: the 3 champs could go on a sneak tour to Harelbeke together.
They remained together until Harelbeke, until Pogacar admitted that he did not fully rely on his sprint.
He telephoned twice, but Van Aert and Van der Poel both responded once with striking ease.
A sprint of the giants and Van Aert now sang the long effort with bravura.
He opened from far enough himself and once again showed his iron mentality.
His primal scream betrayed how great the discharge was.
Watch the final kilometer of the E3
Pogacar with a timid attack attempt
Is there another sofa ready?
