After a solid showing in Wednesday's Dwars door Vlaanderen, Mathew Hayman and Jens Keukeleire will again be the Orica-GreenEDGE leaders in today's E3 Harelbeke. The team will bring in reinforcement from Luke Durbridge and Daryl Impey while Aidis Kruopis and Matthew Goss save themselves for Sunday's Gent-Wevelgem.

The Flanderian racing continues with E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke as the Classics specialists have their first opportunity to test themselves over cobbles and 17 climbs on the WorldTour. The 212 kilometre course begins and ends in Harelbeke with ascents of the Eikenberg, Stationsberg, Taaienberg, Paterberg and Tiegemberg, to name the most infamous of the lot, peppered throughout the route.

After a strong race at Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, ORICA-GreenEDGE lines up for E3 Harelbeke highly motivated to build upon the success achieved in Waregem on Wednesday where Jens Keukeleire managed ninth place from a reduced bunch sprinting for second. Mitch Docker and Mathew Hayman also made the selection and lent strong support to Keukeleire, leading him out in the sprint and chasing down late race attacks.

Sport Director Matt Wilson called Dwars door Vlaanderen the team’s most active race to date in the classics and is confident it bodes well for chances on Friday. Docker, Keukeleire and Hayman will continue to lead the charge while Daryl Impey and Luke Durbridge tag in for Aidis Kruopis and Matt Goss to offer a fresh set of legs over the demanding parcours. 

“In this team, we are lucky to have options for each of the races in Flanders,” said Sport Director Matt Wilson. “We can rest riders when we feel they need it. We have a group of ten from which to choose, with a good mix of youth and experience. Hayman and Keukeleire lend leadership and local knowledge to the group and will the charge for a strong result.”  

ORICA-GreenEDGE for E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke:

Daryl Impey
Jens Keukeleire
Jens Mouris
Luke Durbridge
Mathew Hayman
Michael Hepburn
Mitch Docker
Svein Tuft