Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2016: Van Avermaet bests Sagan in thrilling finale

Results Omloop het Nieuwsblad

1. Greg Van Avermaet (bel)
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) s.t.
3. Tiesj Benoot (bel) s.t.
4. Luke Rowe (gbr) s.t.
5. Alexis Gougeard (fra) + 0.06
6. Jens Debusschere (bel) + 0.09
7. Adrien Petit (fra) s.t.
8. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
10. Matthieu Ladagnous (fra) s.t.

Race report
The breakaway is a fact when Gougeard, Morice, House, van Goethem, Farazijn, Van Melsen, Van Zummeren and Reus join forces. Dempster, Hofstetter, Jarrier and D’haene bridge the gap and the twelve riders race to a maximum lead of 5’40” with 25 kms done. Then the pack takes control to keep the gap lingering at 5 minutes.

Hofstetter is dropped at the Kruisberg, while Kai reus goes solo at the cobbles of the Donderij. Gougeard, Morice and D’haene join him. In the meantime the pack is closing in.

At Taaienberg Van Avermaet, Rowe and Benoot attack, while Sagan bridges the gap. Shortly they gobble up the remains of the former front group.

With 40 kms left Reus and Gougard are the last escapees to be caught by the group Sagan/Van Avermaet. A chasing peloton is 1 minute adrift and it’s only when it’s too late they close in on the leaders.

On the uphill arrival Greg Van Avermaet hits out first and even Sagan isn’t able to react. Bam! First 2016 victory for the Belgian rider.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2016: Route maps, height profiles, and more

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