Jens Debusschere of Lotto Soudal has won the Dwars door Vlaanderen in Belgium.
In a spirit of "No To Terrorism, Yes To Cycling", the race went ahead, although minus quite a few riders who were unable to get to Roselare for the start of this 199.7km race to Waregem on a course which included climbs and three long sections of cobbles.
After a moment's silence to remember those affected by the bombings in Brussels, Gougeard, Asselman, Manakov, Boev, Van Melsen and Kirsch were away early taking a lead of two minutes and then four minutes after 35kms ad the rain got heavier.
On to the wet cobbles with a lead of 7.05, the gap started to come down and it was down to 4.06 with 86,4kms to go.
They took the Berendries, which had ramps of upto 14% with a lead of 2.27 ahead of two riders in Mike Teunissen and Jonas Rickaert and then the peloton at 2.49.
Luke Durbridge joined Teunissen and Rickaert who were 1.56 down on the six up front who were on the Valkenburg climb with seventy kilometres left.
Gougeard was spat out the back of the break as the second chasing group got to within forty seconds of the five up front.
That became four when Boev dropped back towards the peloton with 55kms left.
British rider Scott Thwaites got himself into the chasing group who were 56 seconds behind the leaders with 44kms remaining.
They continued to press the leaders on the Kwaremont and this caused a split with Kevin Van Melsen deciding to push forwards on his own, chased by Maes, Gatto, Devenyns, Kirsh and Durbridge who were 14 seconds behind with 24.1kms left.
Van Melsen was doing his best to stay away but was fnally caught with 17.9kms left by a group whch included Nikolas Maes (Etixx), Luke Durbridge (Orica), Scott Thwaites (Bora-Argon 18), Giacomo Nizzolo, Loic Vliegen (BMC) and Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal).
This group were twelve seconds ahead with twelve kilometres to go but the reduced peloton was closing in and caught them with ten kilometres left.
Onto the Nokereberg which had gradients of 6.7% and BMC's Greg Van Avermaet put in an attack with Thwaites leading those who were chasing the Belgian.
Over a motorway bridge with five kilometres to go and Van Avermaet was twelve seconds clear and six seconds clear as he passed Waregem's football ground with 1.5kms left.
Van Avermaet was caught on the finish straight and of Lotto Soudal won the sprint in a time 4.45.47 ahead of Bryan Coquard and Edward Theuns.
Britain's Scott Thwaites finished eighth.
Eileen Roe, the 2014 British Criterium Champion won the Women's race.