Gallery: The 60th edition of E3-Harelbeke

Greg Van Avermaet out-sprints compatriots Philippe Gilbert and Oliver Naesen for the win

Philippe Tremblay March 25, 2017

Tom Boonen (Quickstep) is racing his last classics campaign after accumulating an illustrious palmarès in the cobbled races

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) in the peloton

The peloton rumbles over one of E3-Harelbeke's cobbled sections

Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) leads Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) in the lead group on the Boignenberg

Edvald Boassan Hagen (Dimension Data) in the main peloton on the Boignenberg

Oliver Naesen (Ag2r-La Mondial) applauds as Van Avermaet celebrates his victory in Harelbeke

Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) finished in second place for the second time this week after taking the same position at Dwars Door Vlaanderen

A race is Belgium isn't complete without beer

The 60th edition of E3-Harelbeke delivered exciting racing and an all-Belgian podium as Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) outsprinted Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) and Oliver Naesen (Ag2r-La Mondial).

The winning move went early with Tom Boonen starting the hostilities on the Taaienberg at 75 km to go. The acceleration was marked by Gilbert followed by Van Avermaet, Naesen, Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac), Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) and Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) who formed a strong six-man group who were able to put time into the peloton.

The lead group caught the day’s breakaway and the winning trio made their move on the Oude Kwaremont with Naesen forcing the pace. The three Belgian’s shared the work leading into the races final kilometres though Naesen was briefly dropped when former world champion Gilbert put down the throttle on the last climb of the day, the Tiegemberg.

Heading into the final kilometres the trio began playing cat and mouse. It was Naesen who blinked first leading out the sprint with 250 m to go followed by Van Avermaet who roared past his compatriot and was able to hold of his former teammate for the win.

Next up is Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.