On Friday the 55th edition of the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen Harelbeke is scheduled with start and finish in Harelbeke. For many classic riders the first Belgian WorldTour race of the season represents a first big appointment to measure their strength against their opponents.

Last year the race developed atypically and in the bunch sprint Tom Boonen won the E3 for the fifth time. One rider hoping to emulate Boonen’s feat of last year is Jürgen Roelandts who will be the man opting to play his part for Lotto Belisol.

The riders will make a loop of 211 km through the East-Flemish hill section and will have to negotiate fifteen hills. Traditionally the first selection is made on the Taaienberg and the final really begins on the Paterberg. The E3 often boasts a route and starting list easily comparable to those of the Tour of Flanders. The names that are mentioned most to be vying for the prize are Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard) and Peter Sagan (Cannondale). Jürgen Roelandts explains that he would like to be named as a member of the circle of top favourites.

“For me important weeks are coming up with races I definitely want to score in. The E3-Prijs tomorrow is an interval race and that suits me, two years ago I even got second in that race. Every year the race explodes on the Taaienberg. We will have to be in front with as many teammates as possible, because it is very difficult to come back afterwards. The E3-Prijs is also a chance for me to measure my strength against the best classic riders of the moment like Boonen, Cancellara and Sagan. I don’t have any nuisance anymore after the tough race and my crash in Milan-San Remo, the legs will definitely be okay.”

Starting at 15.15 on Friday you can follow the action of E3 Harelbeke live here on Cyclingquotes.com