Cofidis' Nacer Bouhanni won the Cyclassics race in Hamburg but was disqualified for his part in a crash in the closing stage.
A 218km race which is one for the sprinters attracted a strong field and saw six riders in Alesandro Del Marchi, Maxat Ayabayev, Matteo Montaguti, Matej Mahoric, Lukas Postelberger and Kamel Gradek, break away taking first a four and then a six minute lead after 77kms.
The leaders were three minutes clear as this race went into the final fifty kilometres and still 2.45 ahead ten kilometres later with only Gradek, Mohoric, Postlberger, De Marchi and Ayazbayer left in the break.
The gap was at 1.37 as the five kept going with now only sixteen kilometres to race.
With the gap at a minute, Rui Costa attacked out of the peloton and was joined by Tony Gallopin.but the break stayed away and had a lead of thirty five seconds going into the last five kilometers.
The peloton had the break in their sights and reeled them in to set up the sprint which Nacer Bouhani won in 4.54.26.
However, he was disqualified for his part in a crash in the final sprint and the race was awarded to Caleb Ewen of Orica Bikeexchange.