Cycling: Wout van Aert has won the E3 Saxo Bank Classic. The Belgian, together with his teammate Christophe Laporte, pulled away from the group of favorites with more than 40 kilometers to go. Both could not be caught and celebrated an unchallenged double victory.
Van Aert almost unrivalled
The action started early today at the 64th edition of the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, with 80 kilometers to go. The decisive moment came around 40 kilometers later, on the climb to the Paterberg. The Dutch team Jumbo-Visma pushed the pace so hard that the peloton simply disappeared. Only captain Wout van Aert and his teammate Christophe Laporte could keep pace. Together, the Belgian and the Frenchman broke away from the competition – all the way to the finish in Harelbeke, where the race had started 203,9 kilometers earlier. They crossed the finish line hand in hand, with the favorite and captain gaining a mere millimeter advantage. Behind them, Swiss rider Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) secured third place with an attack in the final kilometer.
It's a -
Belgian champion Wout van Aert takes a home victory in the E3 Saxo Bank Classic as he crosses the line alongside teammate Christophe Laporte #E3SaxoBankClassic | @JumboVismaRoad pic.twitter.com/L3sMCsJelT
— Eurosport (@eurosport) March 25, 2022