Philippe Gilbert became the first Belgian in five years to win a major classic after a gutsy attack with about 50 km of the race remaining earned him victory in a crash-hit Tour of Flanders.
The Quick Step Floors rider powered away in the cobbled ascent of the Oude Kwaremont and never looked back to clinch the third Monument classic of his career.
Pre-race favourites Peter Sagan, the world champion, and Greg van Avermaet, the Olympic champion, crashed with Oliver Naesen 17km from the finish when Slovakian Sagan hit a barrier on the side of the road.
Van Avermaet (BMC) finished second and Dutchman Niki Terpstra (Quick Step Floors) took third place.
Belgian Tom Boonen (Quick Step Floors), a three-times Tour of Flanders winner who will end his career in next Sunday's Paris-Roubaix, suffered a mechanical fault that dashed his hopes of a fourth title.
Share
