In the final eight kilometers, Christoph was twenty seconds ahead of his ex – teammates after a group breakup.

Dutchman Danny van Poppel finished second ahead of Australian Sam Wellsford at the end of 198 km in Flanders’ oldest ODI.

The experienced Christophe (34), former winner of Milan-Santeremo and Paris-Rubik‌s, won the Shield GP for the second time in seven years after his first victory. Already pleased with the victory of Eritrean Binium Girma in Gent-Wൽrzweim, he completed the successful campaign of his Intermarche team.

After the start given in Ternusen (Netherlands), the run under the rainy sky settled in the first hour. Peloton split into several groups, including one of the fifteen riders who took the lead.

“There were four riders in front of Bora, it was not easy”Christoph said. At the end of the cobblestones, I told myself I should try, and I went as far as I could.

With no representative at the front (including four riders from Bora, including Irishman Sam Bennett), the Quick-Step team suffered a miserable defeat. She failed to make it back to the top group, and usually included Dutchman Fabio Jacobson in a race that ended in a sprint.