The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced that E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke race will have a WorldTour status for 2012. The race will be held on the Friday before Gent-Wevelgem.

The WorldTour race Gent-Wevelgem is raced the Sunday before the Tour of Flanders and often attracts better riders than the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke¨, which has been raced the day before. Now, things will change.

This year, Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) won the race with a solo attack.

“The granting of this licence recognises the importance of this race in a region that has a strong cycling tradition. The Flanders region has a remarkable heritage and remains a landmark for cyclists around the world,” UCI President Pat McQuaid said in a press release.