To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Three Days of De Panne, race organisers have included Flanders’ most famous climb, the Muur Van Geraardsbergen.

"For the first time in our existence, and on our 40th anniversary edition, we will do the mythical ascent of the Muur de Geraardsbergen," said race director Jurgen Van de Walle, according to Het Nieuwsblad. "This operation is to give more presence and force to our opening stage. The remaining kilometres to the finish, after the Muur, will run over undulating roads."

The race organsiers also spoke of their ambition to become a WorldTour race as early as 2017, in order to meet their growing ambition.

"We are 40 years young but still burning with ambition,” he said. “Above all, we made the application to promote our stage race at the WorldTour. We have always had a positive rapport with the UCI. Our success rate is so big; financially there is no problem."

The race will run from March 29-31, with the first two stages being held as normal, before day three is split into a morning road stage and an afternoon time trial of 14.2km, which is usually decisive in determining the winner overall. Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff won the race overall in 2015.