BMC Philippe Gilbert took the Prologue of the Ster ZLM Toer GP Jan van Heeswijk.
This annual Dutch race, whose previous winners include Mark Cavendish, started with a 7.2km time trial in Bladel.
Belgium rider Quinten Hermans was first down the ramp and set the first time of 9:21.
Topsport's Yves Lampaert had gone faster in 8.48 before the race was temporarily halted due to a fire on the course.
There was a delay of twenty minutes before riders were allowed down the ramp and onto the course and when the riders started going away, Greg Henderson of Lotto finished in 8.47, only for Albert Timmer of Giant Shimano to finish in 8.38.
The prologue was suspended again when Van Bilsen crashed and needed treatment but proceedings continued and BMC's Philippe Gilbert finished in 8.37 to take the victory.