Ganna, in Harelbeke cobblestone tests against Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pogacar

Six days after the Milano-Sanremo, the four tenors return to challenge each other wheel against wheel, but everything changes. In the’E3 Sax Classicto Harelbeke, in Belgium, it is the weather that changes: rain and wind all day, temperature constantly around 12 degrees. And above all the background on which it changes Van der Poel, Ganna, Van Aert And Pogacar they will face each other in the most beautiful of the Belgian semi-classics: the cobblestones in 17 sectors of the race will make the atmosphere unique and the day very important as we approach Flanders and Roubaix.

Pavé and risks

204 km between paths and bergs, many of which are shared with its older sister, the Ronde van Vlaanderen. There are for example Paterberg e Oude Kwaremont, in reverse order from Flanders. Between the last wall, the Tiegemberg, and the finish 20 km. Everything refers to the Ronde between atmosphere, perfumes, public, risks.

Ganna’s new awareness

Filippo Ganna comes to us with a new awareness, born on the Poggio, when he withstood the attack by Pogacar, and from second place on the Riviera behind only Mathieu Van der Poel. But Harelbeke is a totally different race from Sanremo, from a technical point of view. Even more suited, on paper, to the powerful levers of the Piedmontese, who grew a lot however uphill in 2023 – he was an excellent second on the Alto Colorado, at the Vuelta a San Juan -, so much so that he even managed to keep Pogacar on the symbolic climb of Sanremo. Harelbeke it is the first experiment of the year on stones for Pippo, who will then repeat the experience at Ghent-Wevelgem and at Dwars, with one more possibility for Flanders, before the attack at Paris-Roubaix on Easter Sunday. Ganna raced Flanders twice (retired and 98th) and Roubaix three times (out of time, retired and, in 2022, 35th with a lot of bad luck). He is currently the best Italian in the Uci ranking (37th), Sanremo was worth a leap of 41 positions compared to the previous week. Pogacar is in the lead, then Van Aert, Van der Poel is 5th.

Four Italian victories

Harelbeke is a Belgian race, won just four times by Italians in 64 editions. The first was Guido Bontempi in 1988, then Cipollini (1993), Pieri (2002) and Pozzato (2009). A year ago the Jumbo-Visma finished on parade, with victory for Van Aert and second place for Laporte.

Ganna, that jump on the Poggio could be the baptism of a new career

by Maurizio Crosetti

March 19, 2023