Harelbeke will continue hosting the E3 Saxo Classic through 2031 after race organisers announced significant route modifications for the 2026 edition. The changes include a second ascent of the iconic Oude Kwaremont from a different direction and two passages up the E3-Col climb, expanding the race’s elevation profile and technical demands.
The partnership commitment between race organisers and the town spans five decades, with Harelbeke serving as both start and finish point since 1957. The route tweaks represent the first substantial alterations to the classic format in recent years.
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New Terrain at Oude Kwaremont
Riders will tackle Oude Kwaremont twice in 2026. The traditional ascent from Paterberg remains in the final 50km, but a new section via Keuzelingstraat will appear after 121km. This alternate route has never featured in a major race before. Unlike the cobbled standard approach, the Keuzelingstraat climb is unpaved and steep, introducing a fresh tactical element.
The E3-Col in Ronse will also appear twice on the 2026 parcours, at 113.4km and 176.8km respectively.
Distance and Elevation Increase
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The 2026 edition will stretch approximately five kilometers longer than the 2025 race, with total elevation gain exceeding 3,000 metres. Race spokesperson Jacques Coussens cautioned against overestimating the difficulty increase. “The race is about five kilometers longer in total than this year and with over 3,000 metres, it will also include slightly more elevation gain, but that certainly won’t result in a spectacularly tougher race,” Coussens told Het Laaste Nieuws.
The route modifications could present challenges for 2025 winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and his primary rival that year, Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek), though organisers framed the changes as tactical rather than punitive.
Safety Adjustments and Minor Route Changes
Secondary modifications address logistical concerns. The 2025 edition nearly created a dangerous intersection between the elite race and men’s junior race on the same roads. “It was a close call,” Coussens explained. To prevent recurrence, junior racers will start one hour earlier in 2026, with corresponding adjustments to the professional course in multiple sections.
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2026 E3 Saxo Classic Details
The race takes place on Friday, March 27, 2026, and traditionally opens the spring cobbled classics season. The event precedes Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix on the Northern Classics calendar.
| Climb | Distance Raced (km) | Distance to Go (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Katteberg | 31.5 | 177.0 |
| La Houppe | 75.7 | 132.8 |
| Berg ten Stene | 84.9 | 123.6 |
| Oude Kruisberg | 107.4 | 101.1 |
| E3 Col | 113.4 | 95.1 |
| Oude Kwaremont | 121.3 | 87.2 |
| Hotondberg | 125.7 | 82.8 |
| Kortekeer | 132.8 | 75.7 |
| Taaienberg | 137.6 | 70.9 |
| Boigneberg | 143.8 | 64.7 |
| Eikenberg | 148.2 | 60.3 |
| Kapelberg | 162.1 | 46.4 |
| Paterberg | 166.2 | 42.3 |
| Oude Kwaremont | 169.0 | 39.5 |
| E3 Col | 176.8 | 31.7 |
| Tiegemberg | 188.5 | 20.0 |
Follow TipsGG’s cycling coverage for the latest updates on the 2026 E3 Saxo Classic and spring classics season.