Peter Sagan Wins On the Cobbles of E3 Harelbeke
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peloton / Yuzuru Sunada
Peter Sagan claimd victory on the cobbles of E3 Harelbeke, his first Belgium classic of the season. In thrilling finale with Niki Terpstra (OPQS), Geraint Thomas (Sky) and Stijn Vandenbergh (OPQS) the Cannondale Pro Cycling team leader has showed a great condition and has won the race with a powerful sprint.
“This win in Harelbeke it’s very important for me and the competition with so many strong riders makes the success more precious. I’m very happy for me and for my teammates, who worked a lot for this result” said Sagan. “After Milano-Sanremo I immediately turned the page. It was a hard and a special day due to weather condition – I suffered a lot, I was freezing and I wasn’t able to get the result I wanted. This morning I was really determined to test my condition in a normal situation and the result was great. It has been the best way to start the Belgium classics’ season and big boost of confidence for the next events”.
“After 100 km I was involved in a crash with my teammate Gatto and I had to change my bike with Marangoni, the only one who has my same frame. I had to ride 40 km with different measures and finally, when I had the chance to have my bike from team car, I had to recover. The feeling was good only in the second part of the race. To win a classic you need to ride hard, to have a good condition and to be also lucky. I think Cancellara has been not lucky today – I think he could be with us in the finale to play his chance”.
“In the finale I wasn’t sure to have many chances to win. I wasted a lot of energies due to the crash and on the Kwaremont I I’ve been also distanced. In that moment I just thought to stay in the front and to see the development of race. I knew Terpesta could be a strong competitor as well as Thomas. Only when I sprinted and I saw that no one able to pass me I understood I could win”.
E3 Harelbeke
1. Peter Sagan (Svk/Cannondale) 4:56:31
2. Niki Terpstra (Ned/Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) @ s.t.
3. Geraint Thomas (GBr/Sky)
4.Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel/Omega Pharma – Quick-Step)
5. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel/Belkin) @ 1:16
6. Tony Gallopin (Fra/Lotto Belisol)
7. Borut Bozic (Slo/Astana0 @ 1:19
8. Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin Sharp)
9. Fabian Cancellara (Swi/Trek)
10. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel/BMC)