Just one day after a rather poor outcome for the team, Omega Pharma-QuickStep underlined its position as a classic team. Captain Tom Boonen secured his third victory overall at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in a sprint in a ten-man breakaway that also included four of his team-mates. Belkin drivers Moreno Hofland and Sep Vanmarcke took second and third place.
The Omega Pharma-QuickStep quintet, together with Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Sharp), Yves Lampaert (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and a Belkin trio, broke the field with almost 70 kilometers to go and then continuously extended their lead. The initiative at Cöte de Trieux was originally aimed at the fast finishers André Greipel (Lotto Belisol) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), who a little later at the Oude Kwaremont already had a gap to the front runners. Their teams then tried together to close the gap to the leading group – in vain. When the front-runners reached Kuurne with just under 16 kilometers to go to complete the two final laps, the lead was still just under a minute.
Maarten Wijnants (Belkin) attacked five kilometers first, but was caught again by the work of Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep). Then Stijn Vandenbergh (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) tried it, this time forcing Belkin to react. Boonen finally secured the sprint, clearly benefiting from the team tactics.
Result
1. Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma – QuickStep) 4:28:55
2. Moreno Hofland (Belkin) 0:00:00
3 Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) 0:00:00
4. Yves Lampaert (Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise) 0:00:00
5. Stijn Vandenbergh (Omega Pharma – QuickStep) 0:00:00