Harelbeke, Van Aert beats Van der Poel and Pogacar. Ganna fight: he is tenth

Van Aert, Van der Poel, Pogacar. Lacks Ganna (good 10th, anyway), but the greats of the Milan-Sanremo are all lined up even in theE3 Saxo Classic by Harelbeke, the most beautiful of the Belgian semi-classics, the most similar to the Tour of Flanders for suggestions and route. The top three are them, in that order. Wout wins, Mathieu second, Tadej third, in a three-man sprint after repeated bouts, tried, tried and finally successful selections between Paterberg and Oude Kwaremontthe two symbolic walls of the Ronde, reversed from their traditional order.

Pogacar attacks on the Paterberg, then the sprint

It is Van der Poel who places the first attack at -80. Van Aert immediately followed suit, followed by Pogacar. The three remain together with the supporters of one and the other, plus Mohoric. Finally on the Paterberg the decisive but not decisive hit by Pogacar, who carries the other three with him. Ganna, a little surprised when the race exploded, remained floating in the third and then in the second group, but with an authority and a presence never seen in these races which always reward the best. The trio arrives united in the final meters and on the pure sprint it is Van Aert, the most in difficulty of the three on the walls, who places his wheel in front of his eternal rival Vdp. Third Pogi, the most active of the day and the only one who tried, with a couple of sprints at -2 and at the last km, to avoid head-to-head on pure speed. This brings Van Aert’s first success of the season and a consecutive encore in Harelbeke. A race that instead continues to elude Van der Poel. And even Pogacar remains zero in the cobblestone races. But, it seems to understand, not for long. Well done Ganna, 10th at 1’31” from the trio in a finish with nine different flags in the top 10. Fourth is the interesting American Matteo Jorgenson, then Garcia Cortina, Kung, Mohoric, Madouas and Kragh Andersen before Pippo. In two days we start again: there is Ghent-Wevelgem.

Roglic wins in Catalonia

Jumbo-Visma can also celebrate with Primoz Roglic, winner on the climb of Lo Port to the Volta a Catalunya: defeated Evenepoel and clearly behind (at 1’28”, 11th of the day) Giulio Ciccone. With two stages to go, the Slovenian is leader of the race with 10” on Evenepoel. Ciccone rolls back to 7th place, almost 2′ behind.