Dutchman Niki Terpstra led an Omega Pharma one-two after soloing to victory in the Dwars Door Vlaandren semi-classic on Wednesday.
Former winner Sylvain Chavanel, also of Omega, finished second about 40 seconds behind, with another Dutchman, Koen de Kort of the Project 1t4i team, in third place.
Terpstra attacked solo 32km from the finish after leaving breakaway companion, Belgian Jelle Wallays, behind on the Paterberg climb.
The former Dutch national champion powered away on his own and managed to hold off the threat of a chase group being led for the most part by former Milan-SanRemo champion Filippo Pozzato of Italy.
It was only the second win of 27-year-old Terpstra’s career and his first since his national title in 2010.
Britain’s world road champion Mark Cavendish, meanwhile, suffered a crash when “a rogue water bottle thrown by another rider brought him down 15km from home,” according to Team Sky’s Web site.
Team Sky sports director Steven de Jongh said: “Unfortunately Cav had a crash but that can happen in any race. His shoulder is hurting but that’s from the impact itself and he looks to be okay.”
“We’ll make absolutely sure that’s still the case tomorrow morning,” he added.
The race, missing former winner Tom Boonen of Belgium and Swiss classics specialist Fabian Cancellara, is the first installment in a fortnight of racing in Flanders, which culminates with the Tour of Flanders one-day classic on April 1.
Last year’s winner, Nick Nuyens of Belgium, went on to win the Tour of Flanders barely two weeks later ahead of 2008 Dwars Door Vlaandren champion Chavanel.
Today, the peloton will line up in Harelbeke for the GP de l’E3 before tackling the Ghent-Wevelgem semi-classic on Sunday.
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