Dwars door Vlaanderen 2016: Jens Debusschere wins after sensational finale

In the background the reverberations of the attacks in Brussels, Dwars door Vlaanderen is won by Jens Debusschere after a thrilling finale. Greg Van Avermaet almost soloed to victory when he was brought back at the eleventh hour. His compatriot Jens Debusschere takes the sprint. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Dwars door Vlaanderen 2016

1. Jens Debusschere (bel)
2. Bryan Coquard (fra) s.t.
3. Edward Theuns (bel) s.t.
4. Filippo Pozzato (ita) s.t.
5. Jens Keukeleire (bel) s.t.
6. Giacomo Nizzolo (ita) s.t.
7. Oscar Gatto (ita) s.t.
8. Scott Thwaltes (gbr) s.t.
9. Mike Teunissen (nld) s.t.
10. Fernando Gaviria (col) s.t.

Race report
After two times a 1 minute silence the flag is dropped. With around 20 kms done the break of the day is off. Gougeard, Asselman, Bauhaus, Boev, Van Melsen and Kirsch are flying and they race to a maximum lead at around 8 minutes.

With 48 kms left Wallays attacks and he is accompanied by Capiot, Devenyns, Vliegen, Keukeleire, Nizzolo, Thwaites, Maes, Gatto and Van Asbroeck. They joing a chasing group with Durbridge, Rickaert and Teunissen.

At the foot of the Kwaremont the front group is down to four leaders, because Boev and Gougeard were dropped. When cresting Van Melsen is the only leader left.

Van Avermaet, Terpstra, Benoot, Debusschere and Gaviria are chasing the chasers, while Benoot bridges over at Vossenhol. He powers on and Thwaites, Nizzolo, Vliegen, Durbridge and Maes hook up. A little later Van Melsen’s break is history.

With 10 kms to go a group with all favourites joins the leaders. Then Greg Van Avermaet gives it a go. He soloes to a 20 seconds headstart before Niki Terpstra chases him down in the last 100 metres. Terpstra does so for team-mate Gaviria, but the young Colombian can’t deliver and instead Jens Debusschere powers to victory, millimetres ahead of Bryan Coquard.