E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
Encyclopedia
The E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders
area of Belgium
. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke
over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI
Continental calendar.
The E3 takes place on mid-March and marks the start of Vlaamse Wielerweek, a week of cycling which continues with the Brabantse Pijl on the Sunday and the Driedaagse van De Panne stage race midweek before the Ronde van Vlaanderen classic on the following Sunday. Until 2011, the race was held on a Saturday; when the race was upgraded to World Tour status in 2012, the race moved to the Friday to have a day of rest between the E3 race and World Tour race Gent-Wevelgem
, held on Sunday.
The first E3 Prijs Vlaanderen took place in 1958 although there had been similar events in the area since 1955. In the early days the event was Harelbeke-Anvers-Harelbeke. It has also been known as the GP E3 Harelbeke. The race took its name from the E3 motorway (now A14) built in the mid-sixties. From the 54th edition in 2011 on the word Prijs has been removed from its name and the cycling race is now known as E3 Harelbeke.
The E3 classic is preparation for the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The route is shorter but many of the climbs are tackled. The conditions are also comparable as cobbles, wind and climbs decimate the bunch. The route takes a large lap around East Flanders
including 12 hills.
The race starts from Harelbeke's Grote Markt and travels east, the first 110 km flat with cobbles around Oudenaarde
and Zottegem
. The riders reach the most easterly point at Ninove
after 85 km and after swinging west and going through Geraardsbergen
and Brakel
the tough part begins with a succession of short, sharp climbs some of which are cobbled as the race loops between Ronse
and Oudenaarde.
The 12 hills in order are La Houppe, Berg Stene, Boigneberg, Eikenberg, Stationsberg, Taaienberg, Oude Kruikens, Kapelberg, Patersberg, Oude Kwaremont, Knokteberg and Tiegemberg. The Patersberg is a cobbled 500m climb that averages 12.5% while the Oude Kwaremont is cobbled for 1500m of its 2200m although its gradient averages 4.2%. The Tiegemberg is 16 km from the finish.
The record for the most wins stands at four to Rik Van Looy
, in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1969, and Tom Boonen
who won in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Dutchman Jan Raas
took 1979, 1980 and 1981 after finishing second in 1978. Andrei Tchmil
, Johan Museeuw
, and Fabian Cancellara
have all won twice. The fastest race was in 2003 when Dutchman Steven De Jongh won at 45.9 km/h.
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
area of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke
Harelbeke
Harelbeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Harelbeke proper and the towns of Bavikhove and Hulste. On January 1, 2006 Harelbeke had a total population of 26,172...
over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
Continental calendar.
The E3 takes place on mid-March and marks the start of Vlaamse Wielerweek, a week of cycling which continues with the Brabantse Pijl on the Sunday and the Driedaagse van De Panne stage race midweek before the Ronde van Vlaanderen classic on the following Sunday. Until 2011, the race was held on a Saturday; when the race was upgraded to World Tour status in 2012, the race moved to the Friday to have a day of rest between the E3 race and World Tour race Gent-Wevelgem
Gent-Wevelgem
The Gent–Wevelgem is a Flanders Classics cycle road race held in Belgium in early April each year. The event was first run in 1934, and it is often called the sprinters' classic due to its flat finishing terrain. Its early-season date means riders are often tested by wind and rain...
, held on Sunday.
The first E3 Prijs Vlaanderen took place in 1958 although there had been similar events in the area since 1955. In the early days the event was Harelbeke-Anvers-Harelbeke. It has also been known as the GP E3 Harelbeke. The race took its name from the E3 motorway (now A14) built in the mid-sixties. From the 54th edition in 2011 on the word Prijs has been removed from its name and the cycling race is now known as E3 Harelbeke.
The E3 classic is preparation for the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The route is shorter but many of the climbs are tackled. The conditions are also comparable as cobbles, wind and climbs decimate the bunch. The route takes a large lap around East Flanders
East Flanders
East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...
including 12 hills.
The race starts from Harelbeke's Grote Markt and travels east, the first 110 km flat with cobbles around Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Oudenaarde proper and the towns of Bevere, Edelare, Eine, Ename, Heurne, Leupegem, Mater, Melden, Mullem, Nederename, Welden, Volkegem and a part of Ooike.From the 15th to the 18th...
and Zottegem
Zottegem
Zottegem is a municipality located in Belgium and more particularly in Flanders, in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Zottegem proper and the villages of Elene, Erwetegem, Godveerdegem, Grotenberge, Leeuwergem, Oombergen, Sint-Goriks-Oudenhove,...
. The riders reach the most easterly point at Ninove
Ninove
Ninove is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. It is situated on the river Dender...
after 85 km and after swinging west and going through Geraardsbergen
Geraardsbergen
Geraardsbergen is a city and municipality located in the Denderstreek and in the Flemish Ardennes, the hilly southern part of the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Geraardsbergen proper and the following towns:...
and Brakel
Brakel
Brakel is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek and the Flemish Ardennes. The name is derived from a Carolingian villa Braglo first mentioned in 866 and located in the center of Opbrakel. Since 1970, the municipality has comprised the villages of Nederbrakel,...
the tough part begins with a succession of short, sharp climbs some of which are cobbled as the race loops between Ronse
Ronse
Ronse is a Belgian city and a municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the city of Ronse proper.- Early settlements to 14th century :...
and Oudenaarde.
The 12 hills in order are La Houppe, Berg Stene, Boigneberg, Eikenberg, Stationsberg, Taaienberg, Oude Kruikens, Kapelberg, Patersberg, Oude Kwaremont, Knokteberg and Tiegemberg. The Patersberg is a cobbled 500m climb that averages 12.5% while the Oude Kwaremont is cobbled for 1500m of its 2200m although its gradient averages 4.2%. The Tiegemberg is 16 km from the finish.
The record for the most wins stands at four to Rik Van Looy
Rik Van Looy
Henri van Looy is a Belgian former professional cyclist of the post-war period, nicknamed the King of the Classics or Emperor of Herentals...
, in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1969, and Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...
who won in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Dutchman Jan Raas
Jan Raas
Jan Raas is a Dutch former professional cyclist whose 115 wins include the 1979 World Road Race Championship in Valkenburg, he also won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1979 and 1983, Paris–Roubaix in 1982 and Milan – San Remo in 1977. He won ten stages in the Tour de France...
took 1979, 1980 and 1981 after finishing second in 1978. Andrei Tchmil
Andrei Tchmil
Andrei Tchmil is a retired professional road bicycle racer. His family moved to Ukraine during the days of the Soviet Union. He started cycling and showed enough talent to be moved to a cycling school in Moldova...
, Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties....
, and Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...
have all won twice. The fastest race was in 2003 when Dutchman Steven De Jongh won at 45.9 km/h.