Thor Hushovd is gearing up for his final few months as a professional bike rider in the Tour de Wallonie but the Norwegian failed to make an impact in the first bunch sprint. Having just returned to competition from a long break, it was too early for him to mix it up with the fast riders.

A field sprint capped Saturday's stage of the Tour de Wallonie, the first of five days of racing in Belgium. Four categorized climbs and three intermediate sprints were part of the 147.9-kilometer race from Frasnes-lez-Anvaing to Tournai.

A three-rider escape of Julien Stassen (Wallonie-Bruxelles), Zico Waeytens (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise and Thomas Wertz (Color Code-Biowanze) enjoyed a more than five-minute lead. But the trio was caught about 15 km from the finish.

Jens DeBusschere (Lotto Belisol) took the win ahead of Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Juan José Lobato (Movistar). No BMC Racing Team riders finished in the top 15.

"I think for everybody it was a pretty easy day," BMC sport director Rik Vebrugghe said. "The sprinters teams controlled the race. We had some attacks in the last 15 kilometers, but the sprinters teams were controlling.

"We did not have anyone in the sprint, but we don't have a real sprinter here.  For Thor Hushovd, it was his first race in a while – like a lot of riders we have here. Silvan Dillier tried, but he needs more help to have a good result.

"Tomorrow is another day and the last three days are pretty hard here. So we are on schedule."