Thomas De Gendt Wednesday rode 120km in the break at Le Samyn, 40km solo. He was caught 20 km from the finish in Dour, but left the race as a happy man. "This was a good training for me," he said. "I am going to Paris-Nice with motivation."

De Gendt showed his new Lotto Soudal shirt on Walloon soil. "Today my goal was to do a final training for Paris-Nice, so I wanted to get into the break and I managed to do so," he told Het Nieuwsblad.

De Gendt went on the attack with two other riders after 60km and with 60km to go, he left them behind. "Well, 75km from the finish we were seven minutes ahead," he said. "At that moment I believed in a good outcome but then I knew we had to stay together. Well, we did not. On a climb, I did not even ride hard but they were dropped and then I knew it was too early be alone."

Nevertheless De Gendt was pleased. "In retrospect, it might have been better to wait for them but I decided to have a fast ride, get a good training and do something for the team. Lotto Soudal could have a back seat in that way. Other teams had to work to get me back and the rest of our buys and sprinters could have a rest. And look: Kris (Boeckmans) finished it off perfectly. It was good for the team so I'm a happy man."

On Sunday De Gendt will start Paris-Nice. "I leave with a good feeling," the Lotto Soudal rider said. "And that's the main thing."