Giant Shimano's John Degenkolb won the Gent-Wevelgem Classic race in Belgium
This annual race, first held in 1934, changed the first half of its 233km course from Deinze to Wevelgem and honoured those who fought, served and died in World War One with a route which went across the route cuts across nothern Flanders, taking in numerous war memorials, battle sites and war cemeteries.
Mark Cavendish did not make the start after being laid low by a virus but there was a strong field which allowed Manuele Boaro (Tinkoff-Saxo), Sebastian Lander (BMC) Marcel Aregger (IAM Cycling), Jacobus Venter (MTN-Qhubeka) and Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert). to get away after five kilometres and take an initial lead of 10.30.
That on a warm, pleasant day, soon dropped and on the Catsberg, heading back over the border into Belgium, the gap was down to 8.50 with 105km to go with a lead of 2.07.
Lotto's Andrei Greipel and Team Sky's Ian Stannard suffered mechanicals as the five escapers lead as they took to the Kemmelberg.was five minutes ahead of a peloton which had a couple of riders end up in a ditch in one of a number of crashes, including Team Sky's Ian Stannard who was taken to hospital.
Fabian Cancellera and the last two winners of this race in Tom Boonen and Peter Sagain in 2013, were all handily placed at the front of a peloton that had still seventy five kilometres left to race.
There was an attack from Boaro and Veuchelen which caught out BMC's Seb Lander, leaving now four in front for the final seventy kilometres.
Passing the Messines Ridge and the Irish Peace Tower, Boaro attacked on the Baneberg. to get try and get in the best possible position to take the Kemmelberg climb.
This meant that he avoided a big crash in the peloton involving Movistar's Alex Dowsett, Haussler, Paolini and Pozzato.
Boaro was out in front as Geraint Thomas of Team Sky joined the front group of forty riders.
Through Ypres, Dillier of BMC, Devolder (Trek) and Amador (Movistar) were forging ahead. They were still clear by the time that Geraint Thomas, Farrar, Bennett and Greipel crashed inside the final ten kilometres.
Omega Pharma Quick Step and Belkin led the chase and caught the escapers just after they went under the flam rouge.
This set up the sprint and it was German rider John Degenkolb who was blowing kisses to the crowd when he took the win, followed by Arnaud Demare and Peter Sagan.
"This race is one of the really big classics and I am so happy to add Gent-Wevelgem to my palmares," Degenkolb said to his team's press office. The race worked out perfectly for us today. The guys were really strong and Dries Devenyns (BEL) did a great job chasing towards the end - he is really strong at the moment.
"Koen de Kort (NED) positioned me perfectly in the final, driving me onto Sagan's wheel and I had the right position and could come through at the right time so it was a fantastic sprint. I am really enjoying sprinting on the Giant Propel bike and winning here is a nice way to thank our sponsors for their confidence in us.
"My shape is good and this is a good sign for the next big races. Last weekend at Milan-Sanremo was probably one of the most disappointing moments of my career, and today everything went 100% better than last week so I can forget about that disappointment now."
Result
1 John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
2 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
4 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team
5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team
6 Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
7 Alexey Tsatevich (Rus) Team Katusha
8 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing Team
10 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol
American Lauren Hall won the womens race.