The FDJ team is still waiting for the first win but left Panne with a very good impression. Showing excellent teamwork, they perfectly controlled the final sprint for Marc Sarreau before Kristoff (Katusha) stormed to another win.

As planned and to rest for the Tour of Flanders, Arnaud Démare did not start and it is natural that sports director Frédéric Guesdon appointed Marc Sarreau to go for the win. His team was perfect until the last corner, William Bonnet riding until the last kilometre before Mickael Delage took over and left it to Sébastien Chavanel to lead Sarreau through the final turn.

"This is really the first time I got such a lead-out and I must say I got goosebumps in the last corner. Later I hesitated. I did not start the sprint, I got a swerve and everything was so fast," Sarreau said. "I understood that I must take the initiative. In hindsight, this stage suited me and then I'm disappointed. Not by the result - I finished eighth, I could have been in the top 5 but I would not have won against Kristoff and Greipel. No, I'm disappointed for my team-mates to not have taken advantage of their work. I also think that in the end, behind them, I could only hold the wheels and keep my place."

Sarreay  finished eighth in the stage and has earned his place for the Tour of Flanders, replacing Johan Le Bon who is suffering.

In the afternoon,  David Boucher was sixteenth in the time trial which allows him to smile after a difficult start to the season.