Greig Leach

The next group on the road was being lead by a three time former winner of this race, Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo). Tucked onto his wheel was the Dutch Champion, Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quickstep) and two riders who had been in the early break, Imanol Erviti (Movistar) and Dimitri Claeys (Wanty-Groupe Gobert). Cancellara was hoping to become the first to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen for a fourth time. He has announced that this will be his final season of racing, so it is now or never, if he hopes to set a new benchmark in Flanders.