Michael Matthews is back in action after his stunning podium finish at Milano-Sanremo last week to lead Team Jayco AlUla at the E3 Saxo Classic.
Matthews finished second at the first monument of the year after a photo finish decision and he’s aiming to bring that form into the Belgian classics.
The E3 Saxo Classic is known as the mini-Tour of Flanders for its inclusion of many of the same climbs as the cobbled classic. The 207km course brings the riders on a loop from Harelbeke and back, taking in 17 climbs that are primarily packed into the final two thirds of the day.
Team Jayco AlUla will have a strong core of classics riders to back Matthews on Friday. Luke Durbridge, who raced with Matthews at Milano-Sanremo, will join the squad in Belgium this week.
Durbridge is one of the most experienced classics riders in the peloton and this will be his 10th appearance at the E3 Saxo Classic. On the other end of the scale, Blake Quick will be making his debut at the race after several strong performances across the cobbles this season.
Completing the line-up will be Max Walscheid, Elmar Reinders, Amund Grøndahl Jansen, and Kell O’Brien.
Team Jayco AlUla line-up:
Luke Durbridge
Amund Grøndahl Jansen
Michael Matthews
Kell O’Brien
Blake Quick
Elmar Reinders
Max Walscheid
Michael Matthews
“The E3 Saxo Classic is a race I really look forward to. I haven’t had a lot of success there in the past, but I am looking to change that this year. I think we have a strong team so can’t wait to start the Belgian classics.”
Mathew Hayman (Sport Director)
“E3 is possibly one of the hardest cobbled classics on the calendar. The climbs are unrelenting, and the riders tend to open the race very early. We have Michael Matthews coming off a fantastic ride in Milano-Sanremo to lead our team and he will be supported by some very experienced classics riders.”
Photo: Sprint Cycling
