The Belgian champion, who has already won his fourth success of the season, won quite clearly ahead of the Irishman Sam Bennett (Bora) and the Dane Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo).
The two big favourites, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, have already animated the race by moving to the front six km from the finish on the 17 Turns coast, swallowed at full speed.
At the top of the hill, the Slovenian took the six bonus seconds in the intermediate sprint, a small nest egg in the general classification over his Danish rival which can be used in a race where the final victory is often decided by seconds.
© 2023 AFP