In beautiful weather conditions, the first in a series of Ardennes Classics, De Brabantse Pijl took place today. For Team Giant-Alpecin it was not a day to remember since no significant role was played in the hilly one-day race.

There were 26 climbs on a parcours with not many flat sections. Team Orica Greenedge took control over the bunch early in the finale but lacked momentum in the critical phase, which resulted in a chaotic finale. With 25km remaining in the race the peloton increased in pace and Team Giant-Alpecin was unable to follow the first.

It was Ben Hermans (Bmc Racing) who got away and stayed ahead of a sprinting group of favorites only just, as Michael Matthews (Orica Greenedge) won the group sprint to finish second. From Team Giant-Alpecin it was Tom Stamsnijder to be home first in 89th place.

Coach Rudi Kemna reflected on today's race: "The race went according to plan until 25km to the finish, on that moment the race exploded. Thierry Hupond punctured and the others could not handle the pace as we were dropped to the back of the race."

Zico Waeytens added: “The entire race I felt really strong but in the finale I could not handle the acceleration."