Sagan victorious in E3 Harelbeke

Peter Sagan (Cannondale) dominated a highly tactical finale in the E3 Harelbeke, winning from a four-man group by out-sprinting Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) with an impressive turn of speed.

Sagan was up against the two-man Omega Pharma-Quickstep wrecking crew Stijn Vandenbergh and Terpstra, and Thomas, but marked them carefully and then dominated the sprint after earlier splitting the decisive attack. The quartet worked together until 3km to race, then the games began. Vandenbergh tried twice to attack, but Thomas and Sagan took turns bringing him back. The lanky Belgian dove for the 1km to go banner, but Sagan was quick to react. Vandenbergh tried again to surprise the others at a median with 500m to go, but it was not enough to dislodge Sagan, who then won the sprint handily.

Sagan shared his victory with his Cannondale teammates.

"I want to thank the team today, especially my teammate who has the same size bike as me and with swapped bikes with me after about 100km," he said after the podium ceremony.

"I didn’t think the race would go well but I felt better and better. The finale was tough and there was a lot of crashes. On the Oude Kwaremont when we caught the break, I attacked to create a small group and we managed to go all the way to the finish."

"It's good for me to win, it has helped me bounce back after Milan-San Remo."

Thomas said that third was the best he could do in such a tactical finale, especially after having been caught up in a crash and riding the end of the race with his bars askew.

"I think I rode it as best I could," Thomas said. "Going up the Kwaremont I thought I’d just get stuck in, attack and see what happens. Obviously it forced that group away but heading into the final with two Quick-Steps and Sagan it was pretty tough. I just felt I didn’t have the punch that Sagan and Terpstra had, so I thought I’d just gamble it all in the finish. You never know if you don’t see what happens.

"When Vandenbergh went I wanted to be first to go after him and hopefully get a bit of a run to hold off a couple of the others. Unfortunately Terpstra got round me on the line but I gave it everything. That’s all I had and I’m pretty happy with that."

How the race unfolded

Spring sunshine and a huge amount of spectators welcomed the riders in Harelbeke for the 57th edition of the E3 Harelbeke.

Before the start last year's winner Fabian Cancellara received his weight in bottles of Languedoc-wine Château Castigno. The Swiss rider can add those 75 bottles to the 75 he received two years ago. On the sign-on podium Cancellara gave Tom Boonen a moving hug, expressing his compassion for the miscarriage Boonen's partner suffered last week. Two hundred riders left sunny Harelbeke for 212 kilometres through the Flemish Ardennes.

After a fast first hour an early breakaway group included Maxime Daniel (AG2R La Mondiale), Jérôme Cousin (Europcar), Florian Sénéchal (Cofidis), Jay Thomason (MTN Qhubeka) and Laurens De Vreese (Wanty - Groupe Robert).

The cooperation in the group was good and they gained a maximum lead of seven minutes. Once the race approached the hills the gap started coming down as the speed in the peloton increased.

A first major crash in the middle of the peloton took down many riders including Svein Tuft (Orica - GreenEdge) who abandoned the race. In a second crash on the cobbles of the Varent just ahead of the Boigneberg it was Ian Stannard (Sky) who rode into a rider who stood in the middle of the road.

Whereas the race often blew apart on the Taaienberg the tweaked course resulted in a cease-fire of more than thirty kilometres. A regrouped peloton steamed over the unselective ascents of the Knokteberg, Hotondberg, Rotelenberg and Kortekeer. The most spectacular feats were the bike changes for Peter Sagan, a double flat tyre for Sep Vanmarcke, the quiet exit of Thor Hushovd at the Hotondberg and a high-speed crash at the back of the peloton at km 45 where Michel Kreder (Garmin-Sharp) took out three Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise riders.

When approaching the Kapelberg, prelude for the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont, the five leaders still had nearly 1:30 on the peloton when another big crash in the peloton kicked off the finale. A completely scattered peloton reached the Kapelberg and top favourite Fabian Cancellara was distanced.

The ascent of the steep Paterberg and then the longer Oude Kwaremont blew the race apart. Sep Vanmarcke led on the Paterberg while Geraint Thomas took the race in hand on the Oude Kwaremont. Behind Cancellara kept moving up, this time with Stijn Devolder in support. When coming off the cobbles of the Oude Kwaremont and heading to the newly featuring Karnemelkbeekstraat there were eight leaders and fourteen chasers at about 15 seconds.

On the Karnemelkbeekstraat Sagan swiftly accelerated on a small gear and only Thomas, Terpstra and Vandenbergh were able to hold his wheel. At twenty kilometres from the finish the four leaders had a gap of 25 seconds on eighteen chasers, among those Cancellara, Devolder, Boonen, Degenkolb, Devenyns, Stybar, Bozic, Roelandts, Boasson Hagen, Bozic, Konvalovas, Vanmarcke and early attackers Cousin and De Vreese.

At the cobbles of the Varentstraat the gap grew up to 45 seconds and at the Tiegemberg the gap was nearly a minute. On top of the climb Cancellara attacked in the chase group with only Paolini, Vanmarcke and Boonen being able to hold his wheel. Boasson Hagen led the chase in the descent and brought most riders back to the Swissman except De Vreese, Cousin, Konovalovas and Devolder. With 10km to go the four leaders had a lead of 35s on the first chase group but then Terpstra started skipping pulls.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale4:56:31
2Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team SkyRow 2 - Cell 2
4Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team0:01:16
6Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto BelisolRow 5 - Cell 2
7Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team0:01:19
8Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin SharpRow 7 - Cell 2
9Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 8 - Cell 2
10Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 11 - Cell 2
13Luca Paolini (Ita) Team KatushaRow 12 - Cell 2
14Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 13 - Cell 2
15John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 14 - Cell 2
16Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 15 - Cell 2
17Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team SkyRow 16 - Cell 2
18Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN - QhubekaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:01:21
21Dries Devenyns (Bel) Team Giant-Shimano0:01:28
22Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:14
23Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 22 - Cell 2
24Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 23 - Cell 2
25Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 24 - Cell 2
26Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto BelisolRow 25 - Cell 2
27Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 27 - Cell 2
29Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 28 - Cell 2
30Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ.frRow 30 - Cell 2
32Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 32 - Cell 2
34Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 33 - Cell 2
35Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 34 - Cell 2
36Yves Lampaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 35 - Cell 2
37Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenedgeRow 37 - Cell 2
39Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 38 - Cell 2
40Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 39 - Cell 2
41Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 40 - Cell 2
42Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 43 - Cell 2
45Kristijan Koren (Slo) CannondaleRow 44 - Cell 2
46Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Androni GiocattoliRow 45 - Cell 2
47Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 47 - Cell 2
49Maciej Bodnar (Pol) CannondaleRow 48 - Cell 2
50Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Trek Factory RacingRow 49 - Cell 2
51Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 51 - Cell 2
53Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 52 - Cell 2
54Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team SkyRow 53 - Cell 2
55Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 54 - Cell 2
56Bram Tankink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 56 - Cell 2
58Dylan Van Baarle (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 57 - Cell 2
59Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 58 - Cell 2
60Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 59 - Cell 2
61Nicki Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 60 - Cell 2
62Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 61 - Cell 2
63Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Steve Chainel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 63 - Cell 2
65Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 64 - Cell 2
66Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 65 - Cell 2
67Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 67 - Cell 2
69Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:05:08
70Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 70 - Cell 2
72Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 71 - Cell 2
73Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 72 - Cell 2
74Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Team KatushaRow 73 - Cell 2
75Antonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 74 - Cell 2
76Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 78 - Cell 2
80Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 79 - Cell 2
81Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 80 - Cell 2
82Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM CyclingRow 81 - Cell 2
83Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ.frRow 82 - Cell 2
84Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ.frRow 83 - Cell 2
85Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 84 - Cell 2
86Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) CannondaleRow 85 - Cell 2
87Enrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Christian Knees (Ger) Team Sky0:07:33
89Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Team KatushaRow 88 - Cell 2
90Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Garmin SharpRow 89 - Cell 2
91Vladimir Isaichev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 90 - Cell 2
92Antoine Duchesne (Can) Team EuropcarRow 91 - Cell 2
93Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
94Iljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
95Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 94 - Cell 2
96Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ.frRow 95 - Cell 2
97Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
98William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.frRow 97 - Cell 2
99Maxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 98 - Cell 2
100Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 99 - Cell 2
101Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 100 - Cell 2
102Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN-Qhubeka0:09:31
103Kenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 102 - Cell 2
104Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Trek Factory RacingRow 103 - Cell 2
105Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
106Matthias Krizek (Aut) CannondaleRow 105 - Cell 2
107David Millar (GBr) Garmin SharpRow 106 - Cell 2
108Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 107 - Cell 2
109Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 108 - Cell 2
110Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 109 - Cell 2
111Yannick Martinez (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFJos Van Emden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFSvein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenedgeRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFJens Mouris (Ned) Orica GreenedgeRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFDmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFJens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenedgeRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFDmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFJetse Bol (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFYohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFMitchell Docker (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Wynants (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Wagner (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFJasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Boucher (Fra) FDJ.frRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFMathew Hayman (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFDaniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFIan Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFHayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFJesse Sergent (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFJasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFGabriel Rasch (Nor) Team SkyRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFMorgan Lamoisson (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFRudiger Selig (Ger) Team KatushaRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFVegard Breen (Nor) Lotto BelisolRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFAliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Team KatushaRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFRick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFReinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFBjorn Thurau (Ger) Team EuropcarRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFLars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto BelisolRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFHugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFThor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFEdward King (USA) CannondaleRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Bandiera (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFJohann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Mangel (Fra) FDJ.frRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFSongezo Jim (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFJens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFKristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - QhubekaRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFAndreas Stauff (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFAlan Marangoni (Ita) CannondaleRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFJérôme Pineau (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFSander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFMurilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ.frRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFOscar Gatto (Ita) CannondaleRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFEdward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFKen Hanson (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFAldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFMartijn Maaskant (Ned) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFJohn Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFElia Favilli (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Facchini (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFTim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFCarlos Jose Ochoa (Ven) Androni GiocattoliRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFMaximiliano Ariel Richeze (Arg) Lampre-MeridaRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFNicola Testi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Androni GiocattoliRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Zordan (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFEdwig Cammaerts (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFGerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFSacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFMirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Dodi (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Verhelst (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFGert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFNiccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFRaymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFLasse Norman Hansen (Den) Garmin SharpRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFRoger Kluge (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFDominic Klemme (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 197 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Palini (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 198 - Cell 2
DNSJelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 199 - Cell 2

 

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