Ganna after great performance in Sanremo suddenly outsider for Flanders? First E3, where he teams up with Tarling

In the last edition of Milan-Sanremo, Filippo Ganna performed exceptionally well. On the Cipressa, he kept up with Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel and then sprinted to second place. He will also compete in the E3 Saxo Classic, but the Italian will not be alone in his first Flemish race of the year. INEOS will also send Josh Tarling, eager to shine in the Flemish spring.

INEOS is currently on a high after the success of the past few weeks. Magnus Sheffield, for example, won the final stage of Paris-Nice, rewarding the attacking style of racing that the British team displayed throughout the week. "The mood is good," says team leader Kurt-Asle Arvesen. "It's a strong group, and we're all looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of the cobbled classics. Everyone is ready and also fit. All the training is behind us, and now we're ready for the iconic slopes."

The team's aggressive racing style is not something we are used to, but it is something we can get used to. INEOS Grenadiers has also enjoyed success in the Settimana Coppi e Bartali: Caleb Ewan won his first race for the team, and Sheffield currently holds the leader's jersey. So aggression is also the key in the E3 Saxo Classic. "We have to race as we have done in recent weeks - show aggression and go all in. That's the beauty of one-day races: everything will come down to that one decisive move."

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Tarling: "Race aggressively, confident in our strategy"

Filippo Ganna has his sights set on victory in Harelbeke but won't compete alone. Josh Tarling returns to the cobbles: the 21-year-old time trialist has fallen in love with racing in Flanders. "I'm really looking forward to returning to the cobbles. I love the roads, the great vibes, and the fantastic racing racing here." He also sees that his team is extremely motivated. "There is a high level of trust within the team. We have built up a great flow and race aggressively with confidence in our strategy. It is a great feeling! We are looking forward to it, and we are ready."

Last year, Tarling finished sixth in Dwars door Vlaanderen and 17th in the Tour of Flanders. He hopes to take a step forward this year, and the E3 is the first indicator. "The E3 is a challenging race. It's hectic, with everything packed so tightly together. We must team up, look out for ourselves, and stay at the front of the race, so anticipation is key. We want to maintain the flow of the past races in these classics, and we are ready to go all out."

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Moser considers Ganna an outsider to win Flanders

And what about Ganna? The Italian showed his top form in La Primavera, but he has only done the Tour of Flanders twice: the last time was in 2019. "Yet the race must suit him," says Francesco Moser. With his current legs, anything is possible. "In Sanremo, he was the psychological winner. He impressed me, and I wonder: why doesn't he try it in Flanders, too? The walls are very steep but not long, so..."

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