Supreme Mathieu van der Poel also ticks off E3 Saxo Classic, hunting Wout van Aert meets himself after fall

Another check mark. Mathieu van der Poel has filled one of the few remaining gaps in his record with the E3 Saxo Classic. The Dutchman was by far the best, but also took full advantage of a fall by Wout van Aert at an unfortunate moment. Our compatriot seemed to bridge the gap for a while, but then hit his limits. Jasper Stuyven won the sprint for second place from Van Aert.

• Key moment: On the Paterberg, Mathieu van der Poel has had enough of running and standing still. He puts everyone on the spot, but Wout van Aert eliminates himself with a slide into the gutter. What if Van Aert is not caught in that fall?
• Van der Poel’s tactics: No Jasper Philipsen at the start, no more fresh Soren Kragh Andersen in the zone of truth. Mathieu van der Poel was isolated and therefore had no other option than to turn off everyone’s lights himself. With legs like that it’s a little easier to find the switch.
• Van Aert’s tactics: Wout van Aert seemed more or less the equal (certainly on the Stationberg), but never fully committed himself to the offensive. He seemed to speculate on team play with a defensive attitude, but Visma-Lease a Bike was defeated by bad luck (Dylan van Baarle) and a fall (Tiesj Benoot). What should not be ignored: the balloon deflated completely at the end.
• Team of the day: Lidl-Trek survived the foursome after the Traaiberg. Mads Pedersen attacked relentlessly, but in the end the collective performance was rewarded with Jasper Stuyven’s 2nd place.

The Tuizenberg. The Boigneberg. The Stationberg. Time and again a hungry Mathieu van der Poel gave a demonstration.

The explosive world champion was out of category, but the stars were never favorable enough to completely break up the pack. Also because the other champions did not dare to enter the fight.

Wout van Aert in particular was a nuisance. On the Traaiberg he still searched for the right words, but with the next outbursts he stuck to the Dutch behind like the other half of a Siamese twin.

All in all, the duo held each other to a draw.

The two high-speed trains did not make it a lengthy duet during their interval training and that opened up perspectives for the outsiders.

Mads Pedersen and Oier Lazkano, among others, tried ad nauseam, but their wagging was not fruitful.

Visma-Lease a Bike wanted to clamp down on Van der Poel with their – relatively limited – numerical superiority, but that plan was also unsuccessful.

Despite all their prayers, the Paterberg was unrelenting. Just as Van der Poel shot yet another fusée, Van Aert slid into the gutter with his front wheel.

He saw the danger, but made a mistake when overtaking when he seemed to want to hit the stones.

The rainbow bird was gone, the race was over. On to a solo of 44 kilometers. Everyone is checkmated.

Or so everyone thought. After the mental blow, Van Aert again illustrated a gigantic recovery capacity.

At the Oude Kwaremont he went alone in search of the Dutch soloist. A bit of a risk, such pure hand-to-hand combat?

In a compelling battle he came back to within 10 seconds. Until the spring broke on the Karnemelkbeekstraat.

The bobbin at the front was not released, Van Aert could no longer defend himself. He gradually saw all the colors of the rainbow. The hammer was now merciless.

He came across that guy at the tail end of a grueling race. His battery was completely empty.

Van Aert had to give up his 2nd place in the rain to Jasper Stuyven after a grueling race.

It happened a minute and a half from an unapproachable Van der Poel, the obvious director of this E3 who (for the time being) is the only one who can and should rely on his own strengths.

Phase by phase

Van Aert has to start the sprint from the front and makes no effort anymore: Stuyven is 2nd, Van Aert is 3rd.

Then we see Wellens, Jorgenson and Narvaez.

Van der Poel!

With a wall-to-wall smile, Mathieu van der Poel betrays his genuine joy. This victory tastes sweet. He was by far the strongest and he deserved the win!

Last km.

It should come as no surprise that Mathieu van der Poel wins. But the fact that he does that after a 44 kilometer solo… He clenches his fist towards the support car.

While everyone longs for the finish, Van der Poel keeps pedaling like crazy. He flirts with a lead of almost 2 minutes.

Impressive!

They’re all completely broken.

José De Cauwer

Van Aert and Stuyven

Is it completely finished with shirt number 1? Van Aert straightens up and positions himself in Stuyven’s wheel.

Stuyven takes another shot at second place

Van Aert just reached for a gel. That doesn’t look good. Stuyven senses his opportunity.

Group 3 falls apart completely. Girmay passes first, Stuyven looks for Van Aert.

Van der Poel

Van Aert at 1’33”

Jorgenson, Girmay, Stuyven, Wellens and Narvaez at 2’00”

Another 10 kilometers

Mathieu van der Poel will soon become the third reigning world champion to win the E3 after Jan Raas (1980) and Tom Boonen (2006).

Mathieu van der Poel drives 50 kilometers per hour. With the wind in your head.

Renaat Schotte on the motorcycle

Who qualifies for 3rd (or 2nd?) place? For now we are looking at Matteo Jorgenson, Biniam Girmay, Jasper Stuyven, Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narvaez.

Another 16 kilometers. The case seems to have been settled. Wout van Aert now has to ensure that he is not caught by the pursuers.

The leader makes its way between the showers to Harelbeke.

“It’s going by fast now, but soon we won’t be able to draw any conclusions,” our commentators nod. “Partly because of that fall…”

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