E3 Harelbeke 2013

The form guide for the Tour of Flanders continues to come together on Friday at E3 Harelbeke, the semi classic over 209km and importantly 15 bergs, the majority of which will feature next weekend at the Ronde.

Starting and finishing in Harelbeke, the 202km first cobbled WorldTour race on the calendar gets underway at midday, heading east towards Oudenaarde, tackling the first major climb of the day, the Leberg shortly after. It’s from around the halfway point in the race where the E3 gets serious, with La Houppe signalling the start of the notorious hill zone with the next 70km sorting out the peloton. The worst (or best) coming in the form of the cobbled Paterberg 362m at 12.5% only to be followed by the Oude Kwaremont, the longest of the day at 2200m (4.2%), 1500m of it cobbled. The Tiegemberg, 16km from the finish set to provide a final selection.