Nacer Bouhanni of FDJ has won the fourth stage of the tenth Eneco Tour.
The fourth stage was from the coast at Koksijde heading inland to Ardooie after 179,1kms.
The stage also took in a number of cemetaries from the Great War including the Menai Gate, and was without Andre Greipel after the Lotto rider was forced to abandon along with Duchesne of Europcar.
Frederick Veuchelen of Wanty Group went away when the flag dropped and was 5.09 ahead with 70kms remaining and now the virtual leader on the road ahead of Tom Dumoulin of Giant Shimano.
With a lead of 1.21, Veuchelen went over the first bonification sprint line with forty kilometres remaining ahead of Van Rensberg and Czech champion Zdenek Stybar.
Veuchelen's lead started to diminish but he was still leading with two closing laps or 31kms left.
He was caught before Sep Vanmarcke took the second sprint ahead of Stybar and Kenneth Vanbilsen of Topsport took the first Primus sprint or black jersey classidication and then the second.
Daniel Oss of BMC took off and soon had a 23 second lead and took the final sprint with 8.5kms remaining ahead of Vanmarcke.
Oss was caught two kilometres later and the sprint was on.
Movistar sent a rider off the front but he was quickly caught by the peloton which had David Millar trying to bring up Farrar.
Under the flam rouge and Cancellera and Trek were on the front. Giant lost their train and the peloton was split as a crash with two hundred metres to go which took down Stybar, who suffered what looked like a head injury. Katusha's Perov was also badly injured in the crash which Movistar's Alex Dowsett tweeting as "Watching that carnage unfold under my nose was frightening.".
Nacer Bouhanni of FDJ, who will be joining Cofidis next season, avoided the crash and took the win ahead of Mezgec in 4.13.59, followed by Nizzolo, Van Staeyen and Debusschere.
Bouhani said to Eurosport: "I found the solution when the line beckons. It has been a sparse season for me and this was the first time I have had a sprint in the Eneco Tour so I was happy to win. "I will race in the Vuelta and that will be it for my season."
Lars Boom still leads the race.
Source: DSG
