Kwiatkowski defeats Sagan at E3

Team Sky could not have asked for a better Friday, as Michal Kwiatkowski out-sprinted Tinkoff’s Peter Sagan to win E3 Harelbeke, while his teammate, Ian Stannard claimed third. This came less than an hour after Wout Poels won stage 5 of Volta a Catalunya in Spain.

With 30 kilometers to go, the world champion duo broke away from a lead group of heavy favorites, including four Etixx – Quick-Step riders. Their gap was slim in the finale, but it was enough to afford a thrilling two-up sprint, which the Pole won handily.

“I guess I was really motivated,” said Kwiatkowski at the finish in Harelbeke, Belgium. “I mean, I did my best — you know I was perfectly protected by my mates. Stannard was at the front. Honestly I knew that I had really good legs today and that I had to go for the win. There was no other option.”

Top 10

• 1. Michal KWIATKOWSKI, TEAM SKY, in 4:55:18
• 2. Peter SAGAN, TINKOFF, at :03
• 3. Ian STANNARD, TEAM SKY, at :11
• 4. Fabian CANCELLARA, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :11
• 5. Jasper STUYVEN, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :11
• 6. Lars BOOM, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :11
• 7. Tiesj BENOOT, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :11
• 8. Sep VANMARCKE, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :11
• 9. Jean-Pierre DRUCKER, BMC RACING TEAM, at :11
• 10. Daniel OSS, BMC RACING TEAM, at :11

With about 60 kilometers to go, a large group of favorites was off the front, with half of the day’s cobbled hills remaining. Fabian Cancellara had dropped a chain and missed the move. He and his Trek – Segafredo team were chasing frantically to bridge the 40-second gap.

Etixx – Quick-Step fought tooth and nail to keep Cancellara out of the front group. Coming over the top of the Paterberg, the Swiss strongman put in a huge effort, trying to bridge to the front group, bringing along Etixx’s Zdenek Stybar, who was off the back due to a flat tire on the Eikenberg.

Niki Terpstra, another Etixx man, drove the front group’s pace over the Oude Kwaremont, and after that famous climb, Cancellara’s chase was 33 seconds behind with about 37 kilometers to go.

Finally, with about 32 kilometers left, Cancellara’s group rejoined the front of the race on a stretch of wide-open road.

But as soon as the group hit the next hill, the Karnemelkbeekstraat, Sagan hit out, followed by Kwiatkowski. The duo built its lead to 22 seconds by the final 25 kilometers.

E3’s last challenge was the Tiegemberg climb, and when Kwiatkowski and Sagan reached the top, their advantage was 30 seconds. With 10 kilometers to go, the gap was a shade bigger, 36 seconds.

Terpstra continued to tirelessly chase behind, with three Etixx teammates in the group. Though the gap fell into the teens, Sagan and Kwiatkowski would not be caught. In the closing five kilometers, Tom Boonen went to the front, but the pursuit was fruitless.

With one kilometer left, Sagan was on the front. A patient Kwiatkowski jumped with 300 meters to go. Sagan could not hold the wheel and Sky’s former world champ won the day. “I didn’t look back, I just went full gas for the finish,” Kwiatkowski added. “I know the feeling of Peter [Sagan] to wear the world champion jersey as well. It’s very difficult.”

Full results

• 1. Michal KWIATKOWSKI, TEAM SKY, in 4:49:34
• 2. Peter SAGAN, TINKOFF, at :04
• 3. Ian STANNARD, TEAM SKY, at :11
• 4. Fabian CANCELLARA, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :11
• 5. Jasper STUYVEN, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :11
• 6. Lars BOOM, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :11
• 7. Tiesj BENOOT, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :11
• 8. Sep VANMARCKE, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :11
• 9. Jean-Pierre DRUCKER, BMC RACING TEAM, at :11
• 10. Daniel OSS, BMC RACING TEAM, at :11
• 11. Dries DEVENYNS, IAM CYCLING, at :11
• 12. Matteo TRENTIN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :11
• 13. Niki TERPSTRA, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :15
• 14. Tom BOONEN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :15
• 15. Zdenek STYBAR, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 2:32
• 16. Heinrich HAUSSLER, IAM CYCLING, at 4:48
• 17. Marco MARCATO, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 4:48
• 18. Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 4:48
• 19. Dylan VAN BAARLE, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 4:48
• 20. Ralf MATZKA, BORA-ARGON 18, at 4:48
• 21. Marcus BURGHARDT, BMC RACING TEAM, at 4:48
• 22. Timo ROOSEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 4:48
• 23. Luke ROWE, TEAM SKY, at 4:48
• 24. Stijn VANDENBERGH, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 4:48
• 25. Antoine DUCHESNE, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 4:48
• 26. Damien GAUDIN, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 4:48
• 27. Laurens DE VREESE, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 4:48
• 28. Michael SCHÄR, BMC RACING TEAM, at 4:48
• 29. Jens KEUKELEIRE, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 4:48
• 30. Bram TANKINK, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 4:48
• 31. Lukasz WISNIOWSKI, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 4:48
• 32. Stefan KUENG, BMC RACING TEAM, at 4:48
• 33. Bryan COQUARD, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 4:48
• 34. Michal GOLAS, TEAM SKY, at 4:48
• 35. Scott THWAITES, BORA-ARGON 18, at 4:48
• 36. Andrey AMADOR BIKKAZAKOVA, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 4:48
• 37. Luke DURBRIDGE, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 4:48
• 38. Andriy GRIVKO, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 4:48
• 39. Salvatore PUCCIO, TEAM SKY, at 4:48
• 40. Filippo POZZATO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at 4:48
• 41. Oscar GATTO, TINKOFF, at 4:52
• 42. Jelle WALLAYS, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 6:18
• 43. Tim DECLERCQ, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 6:54
• 44. Kevin VAN MELSEN, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 6:54
• 45. Nelson Filipe SANTOS SIMOES OLIVEIRA, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 6:54
• 46. Vegard BREEN, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 6:54
• 47. Simone ANTONINI, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 6:54
• 48. Nils POLITT, TEAM KATUSHA, at 6:54
• 49. Marcel SIEBERG, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 6:54
• 50. Stijn DEVOLDER, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 6:54
• 51. Juan Jose LOBATO DEL VALLE, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 6:54
• 52. Michael MORKOV, TEAM KATUSHA, at 6:54
• 53. Alexander KRISTOFF, TEAM KATUSHA, at 6:54
• 54. Pim LIGTHART, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 6:54
• 55. Jos VAN EMDEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 6:54
• 56. Maarten WYNANTS, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 6:54
• 57. Marko KUMP, LAMPRE – MERIDA, at 6:54
• 58. Boy VAN POPPEL, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 6:54
• 59. Michel KREDER, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 6:54
• 60. Sébastien TURGOT, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 6:54
• 61. Mickael DELAGE, FDJ, at 6:54
• 62. Maarten TJALLINGII, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 6:54
• 63. Jay MCCARTHY, TINKOFF, at 6:54
• 64. Michael GOGL, TINKOFF, at 6:54
• 65. Floris GERFS, BMC RACING TEAM, at 8:59
• 66. Wesley KREDER, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 8:59
• 67. Dmitriy GRUZDEV, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 8:59
• 68. Koen DE KORT, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 8:59
• 69. Antoine DEMOITIE, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 8:59
• 70. Lieuwe WESTRA, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 8:59
• 71. Juraj SAGAN, TINKOFF, at 8:59
• 72. Arnaud GERARD, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 8:59
• 73. Bert DE BACKER, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 11:35
• 74. Rudiger SELIG, BORA-ARGON 18, at 11:35
• 75. Reto HOLLENSTEIN, IAM CYCLING, at 11:35
• 76. Ryan ANDERSON, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 11:35
• 77. Maciej BODNAR, TINKOFF, at 11:35
• 78. Adam BLYTHE, TINKOFF, at 11:35
• 79. Sjoerd VAN GINNEKEN, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 11:35
• 80. Kristijan KOREN, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 11:35
• 81. Ramon SINKELDAM, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 11:35
• 82. Matthieu LADAGNOUS, FDJ, at 11:35
• 83. Tyler FARRAR, DIMENSION DATA, at 11:35
• 84. Andreas SCHILLINGER, BORA-ARGON 18, at 11:35
• 85. Maxime FARAZIJN, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 11:35
• 86. Stijn STEELS, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 11:35
• 87. Sander HELVEN, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 11:35
• 88. Benoit JARRIER, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 11:35
• 89. Florian VACHON, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 11:35
• 90. Romain CARDIS, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 11:35
• 91. Vegard Stake LAENGEN, IAM CYCLING, at 11:35
• 92. Sven erik BYSTRØM, TEAM KATUSHA, at 11:35
• 93. Søren Kragh ANDERSEN, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 11:35
• 94. Reinardt JANSE VAN RENSBURG, DIMENSION DATA, at 11:35
• 95. Zico WAEYTENS, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 11:35
• 96. Alexander PORSEV, TEAM KATUSHA, at 11:35
• 97. Thomas LEEZER, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 11:35
• 98. Tom STAMSNIJDER, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 11:35
• 99. Jasper DE BUYST, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 11:35
• 100. Aleksejs SARAMOTINS, IAM CYCLING, at 11:35
• 101. Ignatas KONOVALOVAS, FDJ, at 11:35
• 102. Arnaud DEMARE, FDJ, at 11:35
• 103. Iljo KEISSE, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 11:35
• 104. Alexey LUTSENKO, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 11:35
• 105. Jay Robert THOMSON, DIMENSION DATA, at 11:35
• 106. Grégory RAST, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 11:35
• DNF Nikolay TRUSOV, TINKOFF
• DNF Tony MARTIN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP
• DNF Jurgen ROELANDTS, LOTTO SOUDAL
• DNF Sean DE BIE, LOTTO SOUDAL
• DNF Frederik FRISON, LOTTO SOUDAL
• DNF Gediminas BAGDONAS, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Nico DENZ, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Alexis GOUGEARD, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Hugo HOULE, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Quentin JAUREGUI, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Maxime DANIEL, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Gatis SMUKULIS, ASTANA PRO TEAM
• DNF Arman KAMYSHEV, ASTANA PRO TEAM
• DNF Manuel QUINZIATO, BMC RACING TEAM
• DNF Alberto BETTIOL, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Alan MARANGONI, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Wouter WIPPERT, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Sebastian LANGEVELD, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Kristoffer SKJERPING, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Ryan MULLEN, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Murilo Antonio FISCHER, FDJ
• DNF Olivier LE GAC, FDJ
• DNF Johan LE BON, FDJ
• DNF Marc SARREAU, FDJ
• DNF Leigh HOWARD, IAM CYCLING
• DNF Sondre HOLST ENGER, IAM CYCLING
• DNF Vicente REYNES MIMO, IAM CYCLING
• DNF Mattia CATTANEO, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Gang XU, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Chun Kai FENG, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Roberto FERRARI, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Sacha MODOLO, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Luka PIBERNIK, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Federico ZURLO, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Jorge ARCAS PENA, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Antonio PEDRERO LOPEZ, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Jasha SÜTTERLIN, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Sam BEWLEY, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Mitchell DOCKER, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Luka MEZGEC, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Magnus Cort NIELSEN, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Svein TUFT, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Mekseb DEBESAY, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Matt BRAMMEIER, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Nick DOUGALL, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Mark RENSHAW, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Albert TIMMER, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN
• DNF Roy CURVERS, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN
• DNF Vladimir ISAYCHEV, TEAM KATUSHA
• DNF Sergey LAGUTIN, TEAM KATUSHA
• DNF Viacheslav KUZNETSOV, TEAM KATUSHA
• DNF Twan CASTELIJNS, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO
• DNF Christian KNEES, TEAM SKY
• DNF Andrew FENN, TEAM SKY
• DNF Elia VIVIANI, TEAM SKY
• DNF Yaroslav POPOVYCH, TREK – SEGAFREDO
• DNF Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU, TREK – SEGAFREDO
• DNF Marco COLEDAN, TREK – SEGAFREDO
• DNF Preben VAN HECKE, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Moreno DE PAUW, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Jef VAN MEIRHAEGHE, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Pieter VANSPEYBROUCK, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Frederik BACKAERT, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNF Dimitri CLAEYS, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNF Robin STENUIT, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNF Mark MCNALLY, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNF Shane ARCHBOLD, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Lukas PÖSTLBERGER, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Zakkari DEMPSTER, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Michael SCHWARZMANN, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Yohann GENE, DIRECT ENERGIE
• DNF Tony HUREL, DIRECT ENERGIE
• DNF Alexandre PICHOT, DIRECT ENERGIE
• DNF Angelo TULIK, DIRECT ENERGIE
• DNF Boris VALLEE, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT
• DNF Yauheni HUTAROVICH, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT
• DNF Daniel MCLAY, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT
• DNF Franck BONNAMOUR, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT
• DNF Jesper ASSELMAN, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Brian VAN GOETHEM, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Kai REUS, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Tim KERKHOF, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Ivar SLIK, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Andrea DAL COL, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Matteo DRAPERI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Giuseppe FONZI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Liam BERTAZZO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Mirko TEDESCHI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Mirko TROSINO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Eugert ZHUPA, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA