Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Join Outside+ Create Free Account
Already have an account? Sign In
Outside Watch
Premium Films and Live TV
Campfire
Outside Learn
Expand your Skills with Online Courses
Podcasts
The Outside Podcast
Maps
Get the Free Gaia GPS App
Get the Free Trailforks App
Events
Find Your Event
New NFTs
Discover NFT Market
Outside+
See Membership Programs
Shop
Discover Outdoor Products
Advocacy
Find Your Good

Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Join Outside+ Create Free Account
Already have an account? Sign In

Brands

Outdoor
Healthy Living
Endurance
Industry

VeloNews News Road
Road

Harelbeke Gallery: Van Avermaet out-kicks breakaway trio

A strong three-man breakaway escapes the peloton late in E3 Harelbeke, and Greg Van Avermaet proves to have the strongest sprint.

Join VeloNews.com

Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites.

Join for free

Already have an account?

Sign In

Join VeloNews.com

Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites.

Join for free

Already have an account?

Sign In

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

E3
Large crowds were on hand for E3 Harelbeke. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
There was an early six-man break, which was caught by a second group of riders that attacked the peloton with about 75 kilometers of racing left on the day. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
A number of crashes happened at E3 Harelbeke. Thomas Deruette got squeezed off the road and ended up in an irrigation canal. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Astana’s Matti Breschel gathered himself after hitting the deck in a Belgian village. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Plenty of road furniture on the way to Harelbeke. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) crashed and had to abandon E3 Harelbeke. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Quick-Step’s Jack Bauer shared a drink with Marco Coledan (Trek-Segafredo). Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Coledan passd the bottle to Sky’s Christian Knees. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Movistar’s Dayer Quintana was another rider to suffer a crash during E3. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Tom Boonen got things going by setting a high pace up the Taaienberg followed by Daniel Oss and Peter Sagan. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Once over the Taaienberg, the peloton was strung out and Boonen had done his job to set up the next attack from Quick-Step. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Riding great form, Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step) took the opportunity to jump out of the group and launched his attack with about 70 kilometers to go. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Oliver Naesen (Ag2r La Mondiale), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing), and Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) were able to follow Gilbert’s attack. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
A few other riders were able to work their way into the lead group including Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac). Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Later, Vanmarcke dangled back and forth between the front group and the chase. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
With the leaders about a minute up the road, Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) put in some big efforts to organize a chase but did not receive much help. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) crested the Paterberg trying to stay in contact with the leaders. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Gilbert, Naesen, and Van Avermaet extended their lead to over two minutes and had plenty of time to consider tactics coming into Harelbeke. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Gilbert gave it a go on the final climb of the day. Van Avermaet was able to follow; Naesen was not. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Naesen was able to catch back on during the descent. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Durbridge and Postlberger found themselves in no-mans land unable to close the gap to the leaders. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
With one kilometer to go the three leaders slowed their pace, waiting to see who would lead out the sprint. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Naesen would lead out the sprint, but Greg Van Avermaet came around in the final meters to win E3 Harelbeke with Gilbert taking second. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Naesen applauded the efforts of his rivals and was happy to cross the line in third place. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
E3
Olympic gold medalist Greg Van Avermaet won E3 Harelbeke and hopes to ride his top form all the way to the finish line at The Tour of Flanders. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Stay On Topic

An American in France

What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view.

Keywords:

Related content from the Outside Network

Video Alt

One Way South
Video Alt

Mountain Bikers React to Their First Taste of Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer
Video Alt

Video review: BMC URS 01 Two gravel bike
Video Alt

Kiel Reijnen Vuelta Video Diary: The painful decision to abandon