“It was a strange race for me. The last hundred kilometres, I have really apart,” said Stybar. “It was not really good. I was also still at the back of the gang. Not really my habit to be so quotes. I did everything I could to to get back in the front to get to the hotel and when we Karnemelkbeekstraat approached, I gave Bob Jungels the board to attack. I knew that that nasty slope to him. Bob took off and seemed like a whole day on the way to the victory. From the Paterberg, I remained attentive to drive and everything in it to keep an eye on.”
Eventually, it was Jungels, 7 km away from the place seized. He received the companionship of Stybar, that not a lot of forces had lost “I tried in the last few kilometres to go, but that did not work. When I told Bob that he his last energy in a new failure had to cross. Maybe they would be able to drive. That was not the case, and in the sprint I could get to my hand.”
The E3 Harelbeke is a measure of value for the Tour of Flanders next Sunday. “It seems tradition that the winner of the E3 Harelbeke, also the favourite for the Tour of Flanders. It would definitely be nice, I had also win. Today I have demonstrated that I am not so bad, I'm busy. I meanwhile won the Omloop het Nieuwsblad, but the Tour of Flanders that is really something special. And then comes Paris-Roubaix. Actually, what is added is an extra bonus.”