Saxo Bank's Nick Nuyens won the Tour Of Flaunders classic race this afternoon.
A star fiield entered the 256km race which comprises of 18 hills and millions of cobbles and started in Bruges.
The pace was around 50kmph for the opening 25 kilometres and saw a group which incuded Brits Roger Hammond and Jeremy Hunt get six and a half minutes clear.
They were pulled back by a chasing pack which was being thinned out by a number of crashes including Daniel Lloyd (Pictured below).
Sylvain Chavanel of QuickStep) and Simon Clarke of Astana took over at the front of the race whilst Geraint Thomas who was in fine form led the riders up the Molenberg along with last year's winner Fabian Cancellera (pictured below).
Chavenel went away and got to a minute clear as Phillip Gilbert who was on last year's podium punctured.
In what was becoming a classic classic, Cancellera shot away and joined Chavenel, who had been 26 seconds ahead of him, at the front.
Geraint Thomas, wearing the British road champions jersey, again took his turn at the front of the peleton and with fifteen kilometres to go, the front two were caught on the cobbles by a group led by Philippe Gilbert.
The Omega Pharma Lotto rider went clear with twelve kilometres to go, chased by Cancellara, BMC's Alessandro Ballan, Tom Boonen and Vacansoleil's Bjorn Leukemans.
Thomas, who was having a great race and BMC's George Hincapie got into the lead group.
With four kilometres to go, Cancellera turned on the power and ensured the lead group was spead all over the road.
Saxo Bank's Nick Nuyens, Cancellera and Chavenel led going into the final kilometre. Fabian Cancellera went for it but did not spot Belgium's Nick Nuyens on his right getting into the gap and getting first over the line ahead of Chavenel and Cancellera.
Fourth was Tom Boonen, fifth was Sebastian Langeveld, sixth was George Hincapie, seventh was Björn Leukemans, eighth was Staf Scheirlinckx, ninth was Philippe Gilbert and tenth was Britain's Geraint Thomas.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM