Geraint Thomas and Team Sky put in a battling performance at the Tour of Flanders but had to settle for 14th place in Belgium.

The Welshman launched his attack the final time up the Oude Kwaremont but was unable to force his way clear of an elite group of favourites on the run into Oudenaarde.

Team Sky set about controlling the race early on and helped to position Thomas at the front of the group as the peloton ticked off the day's 19 climbs.

Luke Rowe remained on the front in support of his countryman heading into the latter stages, but with attacks firing clear one of them always had the potential to stick.

That winning move came on the Kruisberg as Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) cleverly jumped on the acceleration of Niki Terpstra (Etixx - Quick-Step) and the two combined in the subsequent 25km to the finish.

Terpstra opted to sit on the wheel of the Norwegian under the flamme rouge but Kristoff trusted his renowned sprint and took an impressive victory. Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) pushed clear on the final ascent of the Paterberg to take third, just distancing Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) with the finish in sight.

Bright conditions greeted the riders ahead of a mammoth 264.2km in the saddle. There was a big fight to be in the break on the run out of Bruges. Team Sky were among the teams keeping watch on the front as a seven-man break built out an advantage.

Handing a race debut to the new DOGMA K8-S cobble bike, the team looked comfortable towards the front, enabling Thomas to remain well placed and out of trouble.

Bradley Wiggins took turns towards the front but crashed on the initial approach to the Oude Kwaremont, necessitating a temporary bike change and a battle back to his team-mates.

The race settled into a holding pattern with Christian Knees, Bernhard Eisel, Salvatore Puccio, Elia Viviani, Ian Stannard, Wiggins and Rowe all spending time at the sharp end.

The peloton became stretched the second time over the Kwaremont and the group began to thin as Thomas and Rowe continued on. Rowe particularly impressed with an assured ride among seasoned classics riders.

After Terpstra and Kristoff disappeared up the road Thomas looked to launch his attack, dragging Stybar with him with 18km to go. But as the Kwaremont flattened out there was a regrouping and Thomas headed to the finish in the group battling for seventh.

"It's Flanders and it's obviously a hard race. I just lacked that punch which I had last week on the Kwaremont," Thomas admitted after the race.

"I had to have a go as the boys road so well all day for me. I just didn't quite have the legs at the end. When you're feeling a bit average it feels like everyone is following you. Once I was in that group behind nobody would work together. Everyone was a leader in there and it was just attack after attack. 

"Everyone in the team committed. We were in a good position all the time and stayed out of trouble. I couldn't have asked for me. It's just a shame I couldn't get a result for them but that's the way bike racing goes I guess."

After crossing the line following an impressive ride Rowe was philosophical about how the race panned out.

He said: "Whenever you speak about the classics it's always about unpredictability. Chatting to G on the bus he openly admitted he didn't have the best day. Physically sometimes your legs aren't there and today was one of those days. But I think we can hold our heads high. We went out there, we had a plan, we executed it but it didn't quite come off. That's life.

"I was happy with how I rode. I was there until pretty much the end. That was the plan, to try and take it onto the Kwaremont for the last time. There were only 20-25 guys left, so to be in an elite group like that is quite satisfying on a personal note - but I was just doing my job."