Pog, MVDP & WVA Clash Over The Cobbles! | E3 Saxo Classic 2023 Highlights
The E3 Saxo Classic is one of the most prestigious one-day races on the calendar. At 205.4km in length, it is affectionately known by fans as '‘The Little Tour of Flanders’. Climbs like the Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont and Teigemberg all feature, before a flat and fast finish in the centre of Harelbeke. Who will lay down a big marker before the peloton races De Ronde in just over a week's time?
Useful Links:
GCN+ | Every. Unmissable. Moment. 👉 gcn.eu/8qd
Ride with us at the Global Bike Festival 👉 gcn.eu/GBF2023
Download the GCN App for free 👉 gcn.eu/app
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 gcn.eu/shop-spring
Join the GCN Club 👉 gcnclub.com
GCN Training Plans 👉 gcn.eu/gcntp
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency
Brought to you by the world’s biggest cycling channel, the Global Cycling Network (GCN), GCN Racing brings you the best of the world’s bike races to your screens, wherever you are: the finest live race commentary, in-depth analysis and behind the scenes access from your favourite events are all here. So get involved, join us, and get ready to be in the thick of the action.
Engage with on the channel and across social media - we’re here to answer every question you’ve got on cycling racing.
Facebook: gcn.eu/FBGCNRacing
Instagram: gcn.eu/IG-GCNRacing
Twitter: gcn.eu/TW-GCNRacing
Watch our sister channels:
Global Cycling Network - / @gcn
GCN Tech - / @gcntech
GCN Racing - / @gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network - / @gtn
GCN Italia - / @gcnitalia
GCN en Español - / @gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / @gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français - / @gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan - / @gcnjapan
GCN Training - / @gcntraining
Global Mountain Bike Network - / @gmbn
GMBN Racing - / @gmbnracing
GMBN Tech - / @gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / @embn
😲Three of the biggest names in the sport bringing it to the line, what have we done to deserve this amazing racing!?!?
It's awesome. Can't imagine a Froome or Contador hanging in there with the sprinters.
This is what I've been waiting for for three+ years now. Now if only Pidcock was back in the mix.
Dude don’t celebrate until you get across the finish. You lost once before doing that crap
@@user-bz9ld2go3g Well, the greatest sprinter, Gaudu, wasn't in the group. So he knows.😂
Second week in a row also (last week with ganna who you could argue is up there in the top 4 but as a tt)
My respect for Pog grows and grows with every race. I love how fearless he is, taking on the classics and attacking them hard. What a rider.
I definitely have to agree Adam. Historically when you look at GC riders at the Tour De France, they tend to be terrific climbers who are also good Time trialists, but to see a guy like Pog ALSO fighting out a Sprint like that with 2 Cyclocross World Champs.. Geez..
Last one was Bernard Hinault I guess...?
He is an amazing rider to watch!
And still smiling as they cross the line.
He's so exciting to watch! Do you think he can win the Tour of Flanders next week?
Can't imagine a better finale than with these three! All absolute world class, that always bring firework to the race!
We can't wait to watch them battle it out in the Tour of Flanders!
Can I just say it's nuts that Pog, top 2 GC rider in the world, can even stay close on a dead flat sprint against WVA and MVDP? Imagine Froomey in a classics flat sprint 😁
Imagine Froome on cobbles or the Kwaremont...
Tadej continues to amaze as a once-in-a-lifetime rider, but who's #1 GC if not him? While it's certainly debatable, most of the expert commentaries put Pogacar at #1 by a far margin even with his second in TDF last year and he's leading the UCI points ranking but 2X+ over other GC favorites.
Nairo Quintana smashing everyone on the Oude Kwaremont 🔥
WVA has won a climbing stage of a grand tour. All three are amazing riders.
To state the absolute obvious there is something oh so special about him. A joy to watch.
MVDP vs WVA is maybe the most exciting rivalry in this sport ever. Just remember they've been duking it out since 2012, when they were both juniors. Lucky to be witnessing it in real time. And TP in the mix, somehow, always, just adds to the magic.
Maybe but don't forget Boonen-Cancellara. The classics those two won combined still way surpasses WVA/VDP by a lot!
@@briangoossens1519 While true, that's simply due to time on the road in comparison to Fab/Boon, who also don't have a decades worth of any cyclocross podium that's been available to them, including eight of the last nine world championships!
@@briangoossens1519 I wonder where they were when they were the same age as these two are now.... somebody do the math for us?... I think these two have a good number of years left in them, and if it goes like I hope it does, they will end up with a superior stash of trophies.
Coppi-Bartali, Moser-Saronni, Anquetil-Poulidor, just to name the first three that sprung to mind... These two will surely end up in the list, but they still have loads to accomplish before getting to the top in my opinion
@@luigibrioschi970 My thinking was more in the way of their ultimate record in the classics alone, as the comparison to Boonen and Cancellara was made, but Spartacus spent some time in yellow in July just as MvdP and Van Aert have too so that is just one thing that makes this duo special, and I've been watching them in cross for more than a few years now too, a wonderful cherry on the cake for sure!
I love how emotive MvDP is in these sprints. Others bang their bars but he's out here giving thumbs-ups and the nod of approval when he loses.
yeah, I'm a big wva fan but nothing but respect and admiration for mvdp ;)
Wait until next Sunday
The race in Catalunya and then this awesome semi-classic. Don't forget Milan San Remo and the cyclocross worlds. What a great time to be alive and watching pro cycling.
We're so lucky!
I thought it was when Armstrong was winning. We will see
Fantastic race ...what a great time to be alive in the cycling world 🏁
Two Movistar riders in the Top5 of a WT Flandrien classic really is the story of the day :o
I hope the rest of the world starts to realize that this is the heart of cycling and the most amazing races happen here
Let's talk about Matteo Jorgenson in 4th! What a performance by him as well ! 👏
A brilliant performance!
That little headnod from MVDP. Like: Yeah, game on!
E3 definitely brought the 3 elitest riders to the line!!
Always biggest riders on the podium. Thats why I love that race, look the podiums of the last 15 years and who won. For me one or the biggest race of the year without any lie.
Pogacar has really won me over. I'll be rooting for him at the TDF.
Crazy how good Pogacar is. He is a GC rider and is battling the two monsters.
Do you think he can win the Tour of Flanders next week?
Good to see Wout making MVDP do the closing for a change! 😂
Absolutely amazing racing between those three !!!! So glad to see Pog ,the best gc rider in a long time throwing down in the classics
When seeing this feed, I did a double take... Pog, MVDP, Wout in the lead.... What in earth heaven is this on the tube? Appetizer for the classics or grand tours.
"It's quite the time to be following professional cycling" indeed! Love how at 4:55 van der Poel gives a shake & then nod of his head to acknowledge the winner.
That extra chain lube really helped in the sprint 😂
Fantastic racing. Huge shoutout to Jorgenson for putting USA on the map!! Hell yea for that top five!
I couldnt believe my eyes, Matteo in 4th!? That's crazy
So envious of the people near the finish line to see these 3 sprint it out to the finish!!
Atmosphere was electric, I can feel it from this video, congrats Wout, I knew it was a matter of time before we bring in the first W!
Matteo Jorgenson was forth. He needs a new contract if i remember.
My thought as well - methinks a number of big teams will be calling him
Tadej putting these classics specialists on notice. Who was the last top GC guy you've seen do this? Absolutely freaking fearless man.
Pogi might go down as the best to ever do it, its amazing
Wiggins was not bad at it, he finished 9th in Paris-Roubaix once, which I am not sure Pogi would be able to do, due to the lack of climbs, but overal, he is on a new level. The Schleck brothers had good spring seasons as well
@@RubenTheCartographer Garaint Thomas won this event in 2015. He's pretty versatile as well. But don't count out Poga even on flatter stages. The guy is as fearless as talented. He'll give it his all no matter what.
@@MarkTomeh tbh, G is a classic rider in road b4 he turned into GC after 2015. Once he turned his focus onto GC, he rarely ride classic or monument.
@@1234aaaa100 Yup, riding for Sky; they'd turn anybody into a GC threat.
Always a joy to watch three pure bred racers giving it their all, going toe to toe. I hope they all stay healthy as we are in for fireworks this year with them battling it out
Love the exchange of expressions of the three champions at the finish line
oh im soo friggin hyped for ronde, on par with roubaix as my favorite race the whole season. and for us northerners in scandianva it usually is the start of spring.
We can't wait either!
my three favorite riders!!
There certainly are some true greats on the road nowadays! WVA, MVDP, PR, TP, JV and RE are all in stunning form.
What a race. A pleasure to watch live. Thanks GCN+.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed them. A big thanks to van Aert, van der Poel and Pogačar for making our jobs easy too! 😂
@@gcnracing Very fortunate as cycling fans these days. Full gas racing from early on and long range attacks.
Your pronounciation of Flemish names is quite good!
Happy for Wout to finally get a win, always on the podium, good to see him on the top step
he already won it last year...
@@Kelso66 Sure, that race, but how many times has he been in 2nd or 3rd at the highest level without getting the win. Road race worlds, Tt worlds, Olympic Games, tour of Flanders, Milan San Remo, cyclocross worlds, the list goes on. Good to see him on the top step.
Big props to the GCN commentator on the pronunciation of the Flemish names of all the "bergen" and places. Someone has been practicing 😃. Much appreciated 👍
Definitely a great time to be a fan
It's all fun and games for Pog. Love his enthusiasm and attacks and even if he loses he's still grateful
He's always so exciting to watch!
great finish...WVA vs MVP with a little pog as a bonus
Unbelievable racing. What a vintage era with all these duals, WVA v VDP, Rog v Even, Ganna vs Even, Jacobsen/Pedersen/Demare, and of course Pog vs everyone. Pog, a 21c GC racer in the image of a 70s racer, taking on any race that takes his fancy, from monument, to 7-day, to GT and always at the front. And always with a smile. What a talent. So much talk of Cav beating Merck’s record at the TdF, but they’re polar opposite riders; it’s Pog that is the true comparison. Whilst Pog will never get the stage wins, too many flat stages designed for sprinters and their trains, could Pog, taking on everything and everyone across all disciplines as he does, surpass Mercx as the greatest rider of all time? He’s young enough, talented enough, ambitious enough. I think, baring an injury in 10 years time that’s exactly how he will be seen. Not a cannibal, he’s more light spritzers than that, but certainly just as dangerous.
That was a great finish. Looks like MVDP went a little early & the gaslight came on.
What an incredible race
It’s been the best year in cycling that I’ve ever seen and the best is yet to come.
Talk about a dream breakaway! And coming down to a sprint? Wow!
proper race that !
Love these gladiators!
we are being treated to some superb racing right now in this current era! amazing to watch
Parabéns pelo trabalho!
Next year I hope Evenepoel also joins this madness. E3 is always my favourite race in flanders, what a gift.
Do you think he'd be able to win the race in the future?
What an amazing race.
One of the best finishes
This is exactly what cycling needs! The drama the thrill
These three fitness at a different level
The season is still so young, but in every race the powerhouses of cycling are already on fire! This is a very promising season so far!
It's already been so good and we haven't even had a Grand Tour yet!
These three guys man!
Regardless of what Lefevere thought - this was one fine race. Three to the end all working. No gifts! :-)
Brilliant pre-cursor to Flanders. Hi diddly-ho neighbour!
GCN R thank you a great race we have
The best era for watching cycling. So many cyclist that can win. Can't wait for the next races.
Wow, that's racing.
What a Podium!!!
WVA's sprint was impressive. Usually MVDP beats him in the sprints. Congratulations, WVA!
Terbaik lah walbanat
Always watching from Georgetown Guyana south America 🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾
🙌
200 people and always these 3 giants 😊❤
I'm impressed with Pogacar the most, contesting pretty much anything that has a road. It doesn't matter what kind of terrain it is.
Oof! The 'spoiler' about WvA when the commentator said 'it won't be the only thing he'd win' was rough :(
"it wouldn't be the only thing he wins today" nice spoiler on the last climb. Thanks
It'd be great to not spoil who won the race before the riders actually pass the finish line.
포가차 개멋쪄🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
2 Movistar in the top 5 of a Flanders classic, it didn't happen often i think 😅
Well, well, well. What an amazing day.
The new golden age of procycling. 😎
These 3 guys again??!?!!!
nice race... big 3....
We are spoiled with these 3 and for me Pog in particular as I just started following cycling with greg lemond and missed hinault so I have never seen a rider dominate GC and in big mounatins and GT's who can also race with not just big guys a special dou who are as strong and coordianted on a bike as we have seen with honorary mention to Peter sagan sort of starting trend. Fabian and Tommeke at time were winning on race craft and brute force to have seen contador, valverde, nibali, froome, compete on cobbbles is crazy people thought wiggins was crazy for trying roubaix and he was world time trial champion and 6'4. Pog can compete in all 5 monuments and obviously all 3 Gt's should he try. Wout and VDP race with nose for winning on the day you see it like vdp peaking perfect for MSR or targeting flanders in past its where tadej's cycling iq has allowed him to adapt so fast from his first win at liege being surprise now today after two flyers beofre finish he still came to line in same time with wout who won on Champs in most prestigous field sprint. All 3 are different too wout has such an engine, mvdp has insane punch, and tadej can climb all day yet they come to the line together. I've never seen such all rounders can't wait for rhonde :) almost same podium in back to back weeks you can tell wout and mvdp love having tadej in field for these races like msr they know he will animate race and force selection its just his nature and so far he hasn;t found a way to get a gap and can't win the sprint. If he ever wants to win one of these he will have to save his matches for one move like VDP in MSR its where both wout and VDP have clear advantage they have raced these scenarios a million times in cross against each other. Really shows through in finale. Plus they had team mates ...tadej has to be perfect and efficient if hes to have a chance has to be away solo or in group without these two in flanders and that will take team mates and tactics I can't see it. Kwaremont seems to be climb he like most as its longest in effort. Going to be great race
4:50 almost took out the kid 😂
when you have MVDP, WVA and Pogs up front the rest can just call it the day
Wout!!
Not Søren Krau. It is Søren Kragh. As the city Krag in Belgium
It is unvelievable what these three boys are showing, WVA deserved to win congrats
Great race Great racers Way to go wva Pogacar sd do same at Flanders. The same, b c it’s a longer race. W those x kilometers he can win that 3 up sprint Is Girmay alive ? Odd, i had thought he wd set the world on fire this season. Nothing so far
fabian last man to defend in 2010-11 great editions. had 3 flats in 2011 still caught rode away solo to win by minute was incredible led to famous thor hushovd in world champs rainbow jersey man mark fabian in roubaix. that is as talented a podium as it gets
WVA not taking any turn up front on the last kilometers should have help Him
One thing I read from this race is De Ronde is going to be absolutely spectacular- I think it will be one for the history books
Jumbo really need to start before mvdp starts else they wont be able to play the numbers game again.
Who's your favourite to win it?
@@gcnracing vdpoel most likely. Poga and vd poel will drop van Aert. Poel will win the sprint
Congrats Wout Van Aert
Is GCN not at the Taiwan Cycle Show this year?
Wout!
The Pog is such an animal.
Those tree racers, together with Roglic and Evenpoel are for the moment the best cyclists in the wordld.
Even if Yonas won the tour this year, Tadej is still a more incredible rider for doing so well in the classics and one-week races. In fact, maybe we should describe Jonas as a Tour de France GC specialist given his narrow focus 😅
Great race, the finish would have been more exciting without the blatant spoiler in the commentary. Please Try and avoid that in the future GCN
A TDF winner fighting for classics wins, we have not seen this for decades
Whatever happened to Julian Alaphilppie???
What happened to Quickstep??
Unfortunately the commentator let the finish slip before the end.
Ik moet just niks !
갓차르 불쌍하다....이길 수 없는 게임을 이기려 하다니..
hahaha I have to say, good effort on the pronunciations there.
Bicarb soda for the win?
Não deu pro Robozão
Did you see who got fourth place???? 🇺🇸