The cobbled Classics return to the fore this week, with E3 Harelbeke kicking off the Flandrian action on Friday (March 27) as the WorldTour peloton’s hard men look to find form for the Tour of Flanders.

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) rolls out as defending champion after an enthralling race last year, which was lit up by Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas – who went on to finish third – on the Oude Kwaremont.

The Kwaremont is one of a number of the Tour of Flanders’ iconic cobbled ascents to feature on the route, with the Paterberg, Taaienberg, Tiegemberg and Eikenberg also among E3’s 17 hellingen.

As a form-finder for the Ronde, it is an ideal testing ground – with flat, cobbled opening sections making way for the punchy ascents with the Kwaremont, boasting 1500m of cobbles, peaking with 41km to race.

Expect a furious pace and a race lit up by attacks on the toughest ascents, with three-time former winner Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) on the provisional startlist with Thomas and Sagan too.

As for the riders hoping to kick off Vlaamse Wielerweek by securing pre-Ronde bragging rights, we have run through the chief contenders over the following pages.