The International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race has proved a fruitful one for the 34-year-old Gasparotto, who triumphed in 2012 and finished third back in 2010.

After 35 kilometres of the 278km Dutch race, the first major breakaway developed on the Bergsweg climb with 11-riders moving away from the main field.

Among the move, which briefly established a lead of five minutes, were Italy’s Matteo Bono and Matteo Montaguti, Belgium’s Laurens De Vreese and the American duo of Larry Warbasse and Alex Howes.

Although the breakaway gradually lost several riders, those five proved able to hold off the peloton until the final lap of 20km.

When the group was eventually caught, the major surprise was that defending champion Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland and Belgium’s Philippe Gilbert, a three-time winner, were already out of contention having been dropped earlier in the race.

The Czech Republic’s Roman Kreuziger launched a bid for victory in the final eight kilometres, but was quickly passed by Belgium’s Tim Wellens, who aimed to go solo to the finish.

Gasparotto and Valgren struck out from the peloton in pursuit on the final climb of the Cauberg, with the duo eventually passing the Belgian rider.

Ultimately Gasparotto was able to sprint away from his rival in the closing metres to claim victory in a time of 6 hours, 18min and 3sec, with Valgren ending on the same time as the winner in second.

In celebration Gasparotto, a Wanty-Groupe Gobert rider, pointed to the sky in a tribute to Belgian cyclist Antoine Demoitié who died following a crash at the Gent-Wevelgem one-day classic last month.

Italy’s Sonny Colbrelli finished in third position, leading home the peloton, who came home four seconds adrift of the breakaway winner.