2022 E3 Saxo Bank Classic – Preview

By @EchelonsHub

This is a race that is very important in the cobbled classics block. With sharp bergs and the main climbs of the Tour des Flandres in it, it’s the most similar preparation race for the second monument of the season. 

The Route

This race is what I consider the main warm up for the Tour des Flandres. It features hour and a half less of racing in comparison to the second monument of the season, however the profile is very similar and the race is to be decided on a very similar set of climbs. 

With 205 kilometers on the menu it’s still a fairly long race. When the race hits 120 kilometers to go it will see an increase in activity as the peloton enter the bergs, and with 80 kilometers to go it will go through the Taaienberg which may be the first big point of selection in the peloton. 

Afterwards, the Eikenberg comes with 61.5Km to go, and the Stationsberg comes with 57.5Km to go, these can be points of attack for those looking to anticipate the big climbs which will follow. 

The order is the opposite of Flandres here, as the Paterberg/Oude Kwaremont combo sees the short ascent first, and it comes with 42.5 kilometers to go, still quite far away from the finish but with it’s toughness it will inevitably cause damage in the peloton.  

With 37.5 kilometers to go comes the Oude Kwaremont. In very quick succession, these two ascents will be the platform for the main attacks from the race favourites who want to make their moves on the bergs.  

With 30 and 20 kilometers to go there are some small bergs, and a cobbled sector aswell with 22Km to go. These won’t be as hard, however after a hard race they can be used to create further damage, however it is more expected that groups will try to consolidate their gaps. The final 20 kilometers will be essentially pan-flat, and it is possible to organize a chase with the goal of catching smaller groups or an eventual solo rider that may be in front. This flat section will force a lot of tactical decisions, and should be crucial for the outcome. 

The Weather

A breeze from the northeast. It won’t surely affect the race much, but will see a crosswind off the bergs and into the finale in Harelbeke. 

The Favourites 

Quick-Step – THE classics team. They know all about these roads, and are bathed in quality and experience. Some links perhaps missing, but the crucial pieces of the team are present. Kasper Asgreen, Zdenek Stybar and Florian Sénéchal will come to lead the team. There are more cards within the team, however strength in numbers can only do the team good. 

Jumbo – Wout van Aert has started his season as strong as expected. He is the most consistent and reliable rider by far, Laporte and Benoot can both be used to control the race or be spared as extra cards for the final kilometers. This year Jumbo has the cards and van Aert may not be fully covered and pressed at all times, he will have better chances of winning in the cobbles. 

INEOS – A team full of talent, many of them young. Dylan van Baarle is an experienced leader and will be a very dangerous rider if he finds himself alone. The team has Jhonatan Narváez, Ben Turner and Magnus Sheffield who aren’t the most experienced but definitely have the legs to play an important part in the race, specially as the climbs will decide a lot of it. 

Trek – Trek have a very well rounded up team too with experience and quality combined. In the helm of the team will be two riders with different specialties. Mads Pedersen will have a complicated race, however he packs a very strong sprint and if he also has the engine, if he finds himself in front after the climbs he’ll be dangerous. Jasper Stuyven hasn’t looked incredibly sharp, he’ll be eyeing April, but he can already have a significant performance. 

TotalEnergies – Anthony Turgis will be leading the team and he is coming in with great form. Over the last few years he’s solidified himself as one of the best classics riders, and his sprint has also became a weapon more seriously this year. With Peter Sagan, Dries van Gestel and Daniel Oss all as secondary weapons, the team is very well rounded up to fight for a top result. 

There will be more contenders to the win though. Don’t be mistaken, this is a very selective race and not one where riders may find themselves in a position of winning just by chance, but the quality of the field is immense. There are some riders who would benefit from a sprint, and with the presence of the likes of van Aert and Pedersen, they will not have the pressure to chase at all. Alex Aranburu and Ivan Cortina of Movistar, Alpecin’s Dries de Bondt and Bahrain Fred Wright are all strong outsiders who would benefit from a conservative race, tilted towards a possible sprint for the first places. 

On the cobbled sectors you will have some riders who have the responsibility to attack surely like Greg van Avermaet and Oliver Naesen who’ll be leading AG2R, Nils Politt of BORA, Michael Valgren of EF Education, Sep Vanmarcke of Israel, Rasmus Tiller of Uno-X and perhaps most importantly Soren Kragh Andersen of DSM will be men to watch on the uphills mainly – although they don’t necessarily need to make a difference on the uphill to take a win. 

There is another degree of pure rouleurs who can succeed here, and are more likely to win if they end up finding themselves in front alone like Victor Campenaerts of Lotto Soudal, Matej Mohoric of Bahrain who’s just came from a strong Milano-Sanremo win and Stefan Kung of Groupama. 

Inside The Bus 

This morning I talk to… 

#221 Karl Patrick Lauk – Karl, survive! We don’t have many ambitions here, Arjen will be leading so if the opportunity arises and you are together, if he’s got good feelings try to help him a bit. Overall, just do your best. 

#115 Dylan van Baarle – We have a strong team Dylan, and we don’t have the responsibility to work. Jhonatan and Ben Turner have been riding really well lately, and we want to see if they get over the climbs in good position. Quickstep, Jumbo and Trek will be battling, and you three race conservative and try to hand near the front towards the end. In the run-up to the finale we can play with numbers, specially with you so that’s the strategy. 

#213 Enrico Battaglin – Try to get in the break Enrico. I don’t know how we got a wildcard here, but we have to put it to good use and get some good TV time, I’ll tell most of the guys to be aggressive at the start. 

Prediction Time 

⭐⭐⭐Asgreen, WV.Aert, Turgis 

⭐⭐Sénéchal, Laporte, M.Pedersen, SK.Andersen, Campenaerts 

⭐Stybar, Benoot, Van Baarle, Narvaez, Turner, Stuyven, Aranburu, Cortina, De Bondt, GV.Avermaet, Naesen, Politt, Valgren, Vanmarcke, Tiller, Mohoric, Kung

I think Jumbo will be able to control the race and Wout van Aert will have his best legs when it matters the most. 

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Tomorrow’s race has prizes of at least €1000 and an entry fee of only €5. Make good use of your knowledge! 

https://zweeler.com/game/cycling/FantasyE3SaxoBankClassic2022v2/main.php?ref=790 

Rúben Silva

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