Event report: E3 Harelbeke

Perfect prep for De Ronde!

HARELBEKE, Belgium - The Tour of Flanders, de Ronde van Vlaanderen, has been the first genuine cycling challenge on my calendar for nearly ten years. It is no different now. Even though the weather has been very beneficial this winter to retain a basic conditional level, my experience and respect for the event told me not to enter Flanders unarmed. Hence, I decided to check out the E3 cyclotour in Harelbeke last Sunday, 1 April. On the menu: 130 km with 11 hellingen, some of which will also be climbed in the Ronde (but in a different order - which led to a few surprises...).

The alarm clock did not need to go off at 6.30 a.m. as I had been awake for 20 minutes already. Two rice gateaus, a cup of Toraja coffee and off we drove to Harelbeke, some 35km past Ghent. At least two huge parking lots had been foreseen by the organisation so arriving at 7:45 I did not have any issue there. I signed the registration papers, paid 8 euros and set up my bike. I was riding my newly acquired second-hand scandium Eddy Merckx frame, used by Wim Van Huffel when he was riding for Vlaanderen T-Interim in 2004, before he changed to Lotto and finished 14th in the 2005 Giro d'Italia. Equipped with my old Campa Centauer group and Mavic Cosmos wheels, this allows me to save my premium bike for the actual races and mountain events later in the season. Besides, I am not convinced these ultra light racebikes are optimal for cobblestones and windy conditions on flat courses anyhow.

I started my ride with five guys from a cycling club in Kontich (Antwerp). They kept a solid pace. However, I couldn't help but feeling uncomfortable but I shrugged it off thinking I was just not used to the new bike yet. Until after some 20 km, one guy suddenly pointed at my rear wheel: the tire was constantly scraping the chain stay!! No wonder I felt awkward. I was riding my Michelin Krylion 25" tires that I purchased for Paris-Roubaix last year, and it turned out they only narrowly fitted between the two lower bars of the frame that attaches the wheel. I lost contact with the small group and had to ride on my own for a while but the riding was a lot smoother :-)

The first climb was the Edelare after 30km. Nothing serious, in de Ronde it is not even recognised as an official climb. Just before La Houppe, 2000m at 6%, six guys stormed past me. I attached my waggon but boy they were flying! After the first food & beverage stop, the climbs quickly succeeded each other. I restarted earlier than those six guys but they stormed past on the Boigneberg, 1400m at 8.5%. This time I did not insist. These guys were just a little too advanced at this stage of the season. Were they?

I maintained a good pace and absorbed the climbs without any problem, which boosted my confidence. After all, you don't know what to expect the first time you hit the hills each year. The Taaienberg, on cobbles and with a stretch of 19%, was a hard one. And the Paterberg with its 20% stretch as well. I had to dig deeper than usual on those. Either the 25" tires glued me to the stones, or... By the way, the Paterberg is considered by Flemish women to be the most erotic of all hills, as they claim the hill offers superb views on the riders' bums ...

Next was the Oude Kwaremont. Never really a problem in de Ronde, but in the E3 - after the Taaienberg and Paterberg - the Kwaremont does matter! When exiting the cobbled stretch and hitting the main road that goes uphill, I suddenly saw two of the six riders who flew past me on the Boigneberg. They were knackered :-) And yes, the four others were not far ahead. I would finish ahead of them in Harelbeke. A perfect reminder for myself to go easy in the early stages next Saturday: the Flemish hills are relentless, you run out of steam, you'll go through hell just to reach the finish.

The E3 was a very pleasant tour, well-organised with good signposting (also for dangerspots) and two modest but sufficient food stops. Recommended.

- KVDV

FACT SHEET:

Name: E3
Venue: Harelbeke, Belgium
Type: Cyclotour
Distance: 130km
Hm: unknown (11 climbs: Edelare, La Houppe, Berg Stene, Boigneberg, Eikenberg, Taaienberg, Kapelberg, Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, Kluisberg, Tiegemberg)
Conditions: Chilly but sunny (8:15 - 12:45 a.m.)
Organisation rating: 5/5
Info: Website