Today’s 174 kilometer long first stage of Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen in and around Brugge was dominated by a breakaway consisting of four riders. As planned CULT Energy Pro Cycling were waiting in the peloton for the right moment to set up the sprint but a counter attack took the cake.

The four escapees Tim Kerkhof (Team Roompot), Gijs Van Hoecke (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise), Alistair Slater (An Post - Chainreaction)  and Gorik Gardeyn (Veranclassic - Ekoi) were holding on to the lead until a small group managed to bridge the gap from the peloton adding new power to the group. From then on, the pace intensified resulting the peloton to split up several times.

Entering the local circuit, five escapees were hanging on to a small gap to the peloton where CULT Energy Pro Cycling assembled to set up Russell Downing and Michael Carbel for the expected bunch sprint. Going under the red kite, the front group had ten seconds on the field and Yves Lampaert (Etixx-Quick Step) launched his sprint just in time to make it first across the finish line before the galloping herd got the best of him.

CULT Energy Pro Cycling DS Luke Roberts comments:

"Unfortunately, we lost Russell halfway through the stage in a crash, He made it back on on the bike but pretty beaten and unable to give a 100 per cent. When the GC riders launched their attack on Kwaremont we simply weren't able to respond and lost contact to the front. Tomorrow's another day and as I expect a bunch sprint, we'll be setting up Carbel and probably Russell again for the finale.

Yves Lampaert (Etix-Quick Step) leads the race overall.