E3: Cancellara faehrt alles kaputt!

What a shame it would be if the E3 Prijs Harelbeke became a second-class race only because some UCI suits decide that Gent-Wevelgem has to be organised the week before the Tour of Flanders! For many years the E3 has delivered a fantastic spectacle and offered the best possible promotion for a sport one can imagine. This year's edition was indeed no different. Just look at the podium: 1. Cancellara, 2. Boonen, 3. Flecha. And that does not even tell the whole story...

As soon as the live TV broadcast started there was non-stop action and changing fortunes. Eventually, it was Tom Boonen who made the decisive move on the steep Taaienberg (with Greg Van Avermaet dying in his wheel) and later again on the Paterberg. Only Swiss champion Fabian Cancellara and this season's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Juan Antonio Flecha were able to catch up with the Belgian champion, who is really having one of his best seasons so far. The three of them caught up with the four remaining survivors of an early break-away group on the way to the next climb, the Oude Kwaremont. Boonen, Cancellara and Flecha dropped them on the Kwaremont with Wallonian Sebastian Rosseler offering most resistance. Italian champ Filippo Pozzato had somehow missed Boonen's attack on the previous climb and was forced into pursuit. In style, because Pozzato still came very close! But when Boonen noticed Pozzato edging closer on the Cote de Trieu, he upped the pace and destroyed Pozzato's hope of making it back to the front. The Italian, who won last year's edition of the E3 by beating Boonen in the sprint, was then picked up by three Rabobank riders- including former cyclo cross world champion Lars Boom - and two Vancansoleil guys. The fourth Rabo ace, Nick Nuyens, got involved in three (!) different crashes today and retired from the race.

Meanwhile up front, Flecha was desperately trying to hang onto Cancellara and Boonen. The two top favourites for next week's Tour of Flanders had a serious psychological battle going on! A headwind going into the finish town of Harelbeke made the trio stay together as long as possible with a 30" lead over the previously mentioned chasing six. With 1,2 kilometres to go, Cancellara attacked and Flecha was the first to react. The Spaniard failed to bridge the gap, however, and when Boonen took over - nearly missing a corner in the process - it was effectively too late! As I mentioned in my Dwars door Vlaanderen review, if you give Cancellara five metres you can forget about it! Boonen did his sprint at 900 metres before the line but only saw Cancellara riding away to take this first ever classics win in Flanders! The Swiss champion expressed his delight of winning in Flanders after several years of trying in the post-race interview, but carefully added that next week's Tour of Flanders is more than 60km longer in distance...

Indeed, two years ago Cancellara bonked big time in the Ronde 40 kilometres from the finish. Nevertheless, I do not believe that will happen to Fabian again next Sunday. Boonen seems to be the strongest on the climbs, but when Cancellara takes over after the Bosberg the Belgian champ better jumps to his rear wheel straightaway. Everything is set for a genuine clash of titans on 4 April! Boonen versus Cancellara, with Flecha, Pozzato and Philippe Gilbert as dark horses. Cannot wait!

Top 10

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI, Saxo Bank)
2. Tom Boonen (BEL, Quick-Step) at 5"
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP, Team Sky)
4. Filippo Pozzato (ITA, Team Katusha) at 30"
5. Lars Boom (NED, Rabobank)
6. Sebastien Langeveld (NED, Rabobank)
7. Bjorn Leukemans (BEL, Vacansoleil)
8. Paul Martens (GER, Rabobank)
9. Marco Marcato (ITA, Vacansoleil)
10. Fabio Felline (ITA, Footon Servetto) at 2'30"

Links

E3 Prijs Harelbeke highlights (Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, Cote de Trieu, Tiegemberg climbs)
E3 Prijs Harelbeke highlights (final kilometres)
Fabian Cancellara
Tom Boonen