Major Classic
E3 Saxo Classic 2027
Friday 26 March 2027
Overview
The E3 Saxo Classic takes place on Friday 26 March 2027, starting and finishing in Harelbeke, in West Flanders.
Held nine days before the Tour of Flanders, it takes in many of the same cobbled bergs. It is the best dress rehearsal for the Ronde: the favourites come to test their legs, and the race gets hard very early.
Updated on 11 October 2026
The key bergs
The exact route varies, but these climbs come back almost every year.
The Taaienberg
A short, steep cobbled berg, often where the favourites launch their first attacks.
The Paterberg and the Oude Kwaremont
The two decisive climbs of the Tour of Flanders, which the E3 also tackles back to back in its finale.
A bit of history
Created in 1958 as Harelbeke-Antwerp-Harelbeke, the race changed its name several times before becoming the E3 Saxo Classic.
Tom Boonen holds the record with five wins. Mathieu van der Poel won it three years in a row, from 2024 to 2026.
Recent winners
- 2026Mathieu van der Poel
- 2025Mathieu van der Poel
- 2024Mathieu van der Poel
Frequently asked questions
When is the E3 Saxo Classic 2027?
The E3 Saxo Classic 2027 takes place on Friday 26 March 2027 (starting in Harelbeke, finishing in Harelbeke).
Where is the E3 Saxo Classic raced?
In Belgium, starting and finishing in Harelbeke, in West Flanders. The route crosses the cobbled bergs of the Flemish Ardennes.
Why is the E3 a dress rehearsal for the Tour of Flanders?
Because it is raced a few days before the Ronde and takes in several of the same cobbled bergs, such as the Paterberg and the Oude Kwaremont.
Who won the E3 Saxo Classic 2026?
Mathieu van der Poel, for the third year in a row.
Does the E3 Saxo Classic count on L'Échappée?
Yes. It counts as a major Classic: your riders' points are multiplied by 2.
How do you play the E3 Saxo Classic 2027 on L'Échappée?
Create a free account, then a private league for the E3 Saxo Classic 2027, and invite your friends. You each sign 5 riders in a sealed-bid auction, with a default budget of 200. Your riders then score points based on their real results.
When should I create my league?
A few days before the start. Points only count once the mercato is over, so the auction has to be wrapped up before the race.
Is L'Échappée free?
Yes. L'Échappée is a free fantasy cycling game, on the web and on mobile.
How is it different from other fantasy cycling games?
Here you don't build a team alone against a fixed budget. The riders are auctioned between the players in your league, and each one belongs to a single player. If you want the favourite, you will have to outbid your mates.
Ready for the E3 Saxo Classic 2027?
Create your league, invite your mates and run the auction before the start.
Play for free
How to play the E3 Saxo Classic 2027 on L'Échappée
A free fantasy cycling game where you sign your riders at auction against your mates.
Create your private league
Choose the race and share the link with your friends, colleagues or club. 2 to 16 players per league.
Sign riders at auction
The mercato is a sealed-bid auction over several rounds. Everyone bids on the riders they want, with a default budget of 200. The highest bid wins, and each rider belongs to one player only. 5 riders per team.
Score points
Your riders score points based on where they finish, from the winner down to the top 40, and by getting in the breakaway. In a major Classic, all points are multiplied by 2.
Claim the bragging rights
Points come in automatically after the race. The league standings update themselves.
New for 2027
In the works for the 2027 season: open leagues so you can play even without friends, and a league that runs all season long, race after race.