André Greipel: “We took the responsibility from kilometer zero and Gert Dockx was riding until about 200 kilometers. A lot of teams tried to get along in breakaways, so he did a good job there to keep us in the race. Then it was important on the penultimate and last climb of the Waseberg to be in a good position. The whole team helped Sibi and me with that. When Tim Wellens was part of the break, we could save our energy and we didn’t need to pull in the peloton. Jürgen Roelandts had stomach problems, so he couldn’t help in the sprint. But Jens Debusschere, Lars Bak and Marcel Sieberg brought me in a good position, but I didn’t have the legs to pass John Degenkolb.

Immediately after the start four riders took off. They got a lead of maximum eight minutes. In the peloton FDJ and Lotto Belisol were leading the chase. Gert Dockx was riding at the head of the bunch for the team. On the 246 kilometers long course the Waseberg had to be climbed four times. At the first passage, 110 km before the end, the gap was down to 3’30”.

Just after the second ascent, with 63 kilometers to go, we got 14 leaders after a few riders had made the jump to the front. Among them Jens Keukeleire, Michal Kwiatkowski, Marco Marcato and Yoann Offredo. 50 kilometers from the end this break was caught. After an intermezzo by Boaro and Flens Sep Vanmarcke attacked on the third ascent of the Waseberg. Together with Mol, Stannard and Terpstra he formed the new front group. 5 chasers could join them, Lotto Belisol rider Tim Wellens was one of them. Niki Tersptra started a solo on the last climb of the Waseberg with 15 km to go. At less than 8 km, he was reeled in by the chasing peloton. John Degenkolb won the bunch sprint before German national champion André Greipel and Alexander Kristoff.