E3 Saxo Classic 2025: the most important facts in brief

• Date: 28 March 2025
• Distance208.8 kilometres
• Start: 12:52, Harelbeke,
• Goal: ~17:13-17:50, Harelbeke
• Profilehilly
• UCI category: World Tour
• OrganiserKWC Hand in Hand
• Premiere1958, 67th edition
• Last year's winnerMathieu van der Poel
• To the race report

At the beginning of the 1970s, a motorway was built across Belgium, which also led to the naming of the E3 Harelbeke, which took place along this route. Originally named after its start and finish in Harelbeke, a small Belgian town, the organisers felt that the number of the motorway, E3, was more international and had a better ring to it.

Although the motorway is now officially called E17, the original name has survived in the race. Whether as E3 Preis, E3 Harelbeke or currently E3 Saxo Classic - the original name of the route, which is crossed twice in the race, remains the same.

Route of the E3 Saxo Classic 2025

The route is almost identical to that of the previous year. A total of 17 short, tricky climbs (so-called Hellingen) await the riders. Only the Eikenberg (Helling 11) has been added back to the programme for the Ellestraat.

These are the rings of the E3 Harelbeke 2025

1. KM 31.0 - Katteberg
2. KM 90.7 - La Houppe
3. KM 96.9 - Kanarieberg
4. KM 104.1 - Oude Kruisberg
5. KM 111.9 - Knokteberg
6. KM 115.8 - Hotendberg
7. KM 122.9 - Kortekeer
8. KM 127.6 - Taaienberg
9. KM 135.6 - Berg Ten Stene
10. KM 140.8 - Boigneberg
11. KM 145.2 - Eikenberg
12. KM 150.6 - Stationberg
13. KM 161.5 - Kapelberg
14. KM 165.6 - Paterberg
15. KM 168.4 - Oude Kwaremont
16. KM 176.2 - E3 Col Karnemelkbeekstraat
17. KM 188.0 - Tiegemberg

The riders set off from Harelbeke at 12:52 and will first tackle the route via Waregem to Oudenaarde. Not much action is expected at this stage of the race, the riders will use the time to roll in. In Oudenaarde, the first slip road is the Katteberg. This climb is just a foretaste of what is to come, as the race remains relatively quiet until kilometre 80 - even when passing through Geraardsbergen, where the famous Muur is not ridden.

Shortly before Ronse, the riders reach La Houppe. This second slip road heralds a constant up and down - until the traditional last slip road, the Tiegemberg (around 20 kilometres before the finish). The biggest challenges here are the Kanarieberg (max. 14 per cent), Kortekeer (max. 17 per cent), the Taaienberg (max. 16 per cent) and the Kapelberg (max. 14 per cent). Around 40 kilometres before the finish, the challenging Paterberg awaits.

Cobblestones and gradients of up to 20.3 per cent often lead to a preliminary decision at the E3 Harelbeke. The riders then have to ride directly over the Oude Kwaremont (max. 11.6 per cent gradient and cobbles). This combination - albeit in reverse order - also forms the centrepiece of the finale of the Tour of Flanders. The Kwaremont is followed by the E3-Col Karnemelbeekstraat (max. 18 per cent gradient) and the Tiegemberg (max. 9 per cent gradient). From there, there are still around 20 kilometres to the finish in Harelbeke.

>> Spring Classic 2025 - the timetable

>> To the cycling race calendar

The favourites for the E3 Saxo Classic 2025

Superstar Tadej Pogačar was originally scheduled to start. However, his team UAE Team Emirates - XRG announced during the week, that the Slovenian will take part in Paris-Roubaix. As a result, the Tour de France winner will not start at the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, leaving only the Tour of Flanders on the programme of the originally planned cobbled classics. In the absence of Pogačar, two other superstars will be in the spotlight: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin - Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). It is the first clash between the long-time rivals this season. While van der Poel goes into the race with victory at Milan-San Remo under his belt, van Aert's opening weekend at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne did not go so well. The Belgian then put in a training block and now wants to reach his top form.

Last year, van Aert was able to hold his own against van der Poel for a long time. On the Paterberg, however, van Aert hung up on the turf 43 kilometres before the finish. Van der Poel pulled away and could no longer be caught. Although the Dutchman is the top favourite again this year based on his performances, Visma | Lease a Bike has other trump cards alongside van Aert with Matteo Jorgenson, Dylan van Baarle and Tiesj Benoot. They are joined by Lidl - Trek and UAE Team Emirates - XRG, two teams that are similarly strong across the board. Lidl - Trek will send Mads Pedersen, Mathias Vacek and Jasper Stuyven as spearheads, while UAE will have Tim Wellens, Nils Politt and António Morgado. Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Stefan Küng (Groupama - FDJ) and Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) could also have a say in the battle for victory.

Results E3 Saxo Classic 2024

>> How the E3 Saxo Classic 2024 went

E3 Saxo Classic 2025: TV broadcast and live stream

In Germany, E3 Prize Harelbeke 2025 will be televised on Friday by 16:00-17:45 on Eurosport 2 to see. A live stream is available at Discovery Plus (with costs) from 14:00-18:15.