Alexander Kristoff of Katusha has won the opening stage of the Three Days of De Panne race in Belgium.
The Driedaagse De Panne in Flanders attracted some big names including Sir Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky for a first stage which was a 201.6km stage from De Panne to Zottegem.
Speeds were around 70kmh at the start on a windy day and it was no surprise that there was a crash which saw Gert Steegmans forced to abandon after suffering a knee injury after ending up in a dyke.
A break of three turned into a break of seven which was brought back after sixty kilometres, fifty six of which had been riden in the first hour.
Jens Debusschere, Oliveira of Lampre, Reihs and Salomein formed a new break and were 1.22 with sixty kilometres left and more than half of the cobbled sections to complete.
That break was caught and Debusschere was joined by Lars Bak for the final forty six kilometres.
Seven kilometres later and they had opened up a lead of forty seconds before there was a crash involving Shane Archbold and James Vanlandschoot who managed to get back in a peloton that was now 1.02 down after 32.6kms left.
Onto the 2000m Haaghoek cobble sector and the lead of Bak and Debusschere was hovering around the minute mark.
For the final twenty kilometres of the stage, they were joined by Sean De Bie, Bystrom, Alexander Kristoff and Devoloder for the final series of hellingen.
Their lead, ten kilometres later stood at forty seconds and was still the same 2.5kms later. MTN Qhubeka tried to being them back before the last climb of the Klemhoutstraat in bright sunshine.
Bradley Wiggins took a long turn on the front but under the flam rouge and the gap was 24 seconds and it was out of this group who would win.
Die Bie lead the sprint out but Alexander Kristoff of Katusha won in 3.59.31, two seconds ahead of Belgian champions Jens Debusschere, Devolder, De Bie and Bak. Stefan Keung led home the peloton to take seventh place some 32 seconds later.
Alexander Kristoff said on his win: "I made it to the first group but was not really sure but I had to react and I had a bit more speed in my legs to take. We will see how things go tomorrow and I am really happy now and i am happy to see the team doing so good."
Stage two is 217kms long and from Zottegem to Koksude.
Source: DSG
