Hot on the heels of the 2015 UCI WorldTour’s first cobbled Classic, today’s E3 Harebeke, comes the unpredictable Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday (March 29).

Milan-San Remo champion John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) rolls out bidding to replicate his success of last year, but there are several former champions set for the startline.

And the variety of those highlights how varied the race, which will tackle nine cobbled climbs in all – including two ascents of the Kemmelberg – can be.

Marcus Burghardt (BMC Racing), Bernie Eisel (Team Sky) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka) are all on the provisional startlist having won the race in the past, while 2013 champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) bids for a fourth straight podium.

Despite that, however, the race retains its reputation as the ‘sprinter’s Classic’, so who will be getting their arms in the air this time out?

Much will depend on who can control the race over the hellingen – Casselberg (twice), Catsberg, Baneberg, Kemmelberg and Monteberg (twice each) and Baneberg being the climbs to tackle after a flat opening 100km.

We have run through the leading contenders hoping to be lifting their arms in Wevelgem after 240km of racing on Sunday.