BMC Racing Team's Daniel Oss finished eighth Sunday at Gent-Wevelgem after riding alone the last 35 kilometers in a windy, rain-soaked edition of the Belgian classic.

Oss fought his way across the line 4:15 after winner Luca Paolini (Katusha Team) soloed out of a select group with six kilometers to go in the 239.1-km race. Oss had been riding in a group of six that was chasing solo Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal) but lost contact on the second of two trips up the climb of the Kemmelberg.

Teammate Michael Schär crashed heavily and was taken to a nearby hospital for examination. Nothing was broken, but the past Swiss national road champion has a shoulder injury, said BMC Racing Team Sporting Manager Allan Peiper.

Only 39 riders finished the race, including three others from the BMC Racing Team: Jempy Drucker (16th), Manuel Quinziato (31st) and Greg Van Avermaet (36th).

Team leader Van Avermaet crashed in Fruday's E3 Harelbeke and suffered in yesterday's race.

“He was in the group but he wasn’t 100 per cent,” team director Valerio Piva told Cyclingnews.

“He finished the race but when the break went clear he wasn’t able to go with those guys. He was strong and felt good but on the Kemmelberg he was just missing 20 metres and when they went full gas he was dropped but we’ve still finished eighth.”