Nikolas Maes and Iljo Keisse both participated in two different key breaks in 198km Halle-Ingooigem on Wednesday.
Maes made a breakaway of about a dozen riders, that dwindled down to nine with a little more than 18km to go as the peloton was strung out trying to bring the large group back. However, that break was reeled in by a chase group that included Dries Devenyns with 10.8km to go, and with 9.6km to go, the race was back together.
That didn't stop Iljo Keisse from trying his best to escape, going up the road with a little more than 5km remaining. He looked back hoping riders were with him, but no one could stick to his wheel until a group of 4 bridged to him with 4.4km to go.
Unfortunately, the field was focused on the field sprint, and captured all the breakaway riders with 1.2km remaining.
Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ-BigMat) won the field sprint over Arnaud Demare (FDJ-BigMat_ and Tom Veelers (Argos-Shimano). Stijn Vandenbergh was the Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team top finisher, in 19th place.
