Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) sped to the win at the Antwerp Port Epic-Sels Trophy, scoring his second victory of the season and 90th of his career in a sprint finish at the end of the 177.9km race.
The Norwegian veteran beat out Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies), Oded Kogut (Israel-Premier Tech Academy) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) to the line in a fight between the fast finishers of the peloton.
The sprint was only set up late on after the final catch of breakaway survivor Juri Hollmann (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at just 1.5km from the line, with Kristoff prevailing in a mass bunch finish.
The 2024 race started and finished in Antwerp, covering 177.9km and including cobbled sectors along an otherwise flat course.
A flurry of attacks led to an early breakaway with Nicklas Amdi Pedersen (TDT-Unibet Cycling Team) and Alexander Arnt Hansen (Airtox-Carl Ras).
The pair were chased by a trio including Corné van Kessel (Deschacht-Group Hens-Containers Maes), Stijn Appel (Beat Cycling Club) and Coen Vermeltfoort (VolkerWessels Cycling Team).
The chase group efforts were shortlived, however, as the peloton reeled them in with 150km to go, and Aksel Bech Skot-Hansen (Team ColoQuick) counter-attacked and bridged across to the leaders on the road.
The peloton was all back together with 73km to go.
A new breakaway of two emerged that included Juri Hollmann (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Pier-André Côté (Israel Premier Tech Academy) but they only managed to gain a slim 20 seconds ahead of a field led by Lotto Dstny.
A chase group formed over the cobbles that included Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Arnaud De Lie and Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies) and Pim Ronhaar (Baloise-Trek Lions) inside 25km to go.
Hollmann attacked to go solo with 15km to go, as Pier-André Côté was absorbed into the chase group behind.
Hollman held just 10 seconds with 3km to go, but his advantage would only wane as he raced closer to the finish line. In the end, he wouldn't make the flamme rouge, instead being back 500 metres earlier.
A counterattack from Julien Vermote (Visma-Lease A Bike) late on couldn't disrupt the sprint squads, and so the promised mass sprint finish came to pass, with Kristoff coming out on top as the fastest man at the line.
Results
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