The E3 Saxo Classic returns Friday with its familiar billing as a dress rehearsal for the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Sure, it’s a bit shorter, but it’s pretty darn similar in how it breaks riders apart.
At just over 200 km, the race builds gradually before detonating deep into the second half. Once the peloton hits the climbs, the rhythm changes quickly.
A revised route adds a bit of leg tenderizing, with multiple passages over the Oude Kwaremont and the very tough Paterberg coming in quick succession inside the final 45 km. From there, it’s a test of who has anything left, and who can make it stick on the flat run back to Harelbeke.
Wow, the E3 Saxo Classic organizers haven’t said anything dumb this year
All eyes fall, inevitably, on Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman has pretty much owned this race in recent editions. He’s done well thus far in 2026 with a dominant win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and grabbed a Tirreno Adriatico stage. Sure, he got popped by Tadej Pogačar and Tom Pidcock at Milan-San Remo. But when it comes to the pavé, few can follow—fewer still can bring him back.
Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen has been great since his return from the crash earlier this year that sidelined him for six weeks. Can he match the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider? That’s a big ole TBD.
One Canadian is racing, former national champ Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.) The Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Que. native has shown fine form this year, and loves when the racing is tough–his gritty style might do well on Friday, if he’s covering moves.
To watch it, tune into FloBikes.com at 8:50 a.m. EDT. There’s no women’s race, however there is a junior event with many national teams competing. Unfortunately there’s no Canadian squad there, but Ottawa’s Carter Deveer, who races for the Cannibal – Victorious U19 Development Team, will be in action on a composite squad.
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