Hanselmann, who rides for Bigla Pro Cycling, started the 13th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad so quickly that organisers had to "neutralise" the women's event to create a gap between the races and prevent her from not encroaching on the men’s support vehicles.

Having attacked after seven kilometres, the 27-year-old had opened up a lead of around two minutes over the chasing pack in the women's 122.9km event from Ghent to Ninove.

But the stoppage allowed the peloton to catch her with officials ordering her to wait at the side of the road until the men's event, and its support vehicles, had cleared once again.

When racing eventually restarted in the women's race, Hanselmann was allowed to build an advantage before the peloton was released.

But the former Swiss national champion ultimately failed to maintain her lead and eventually finished in 74th place.

"I attacked after 7km, and was alone in the break for around 30km… but then an awkward moment happened and I almost saw the back of the men's peloton," Hanselmann said on Instagram.

"Maybe the other women and me were too fast, or the men too slow," she added.

The Netherlands’ Chantal Blaak of Boels–Dolmans Pro Cycling triumphed in a time of 3 hours 20min 58sec.

The men's race was won by Czech rider Zdeněk Štybar of Deceuninck–Quick-Step in 4:53:17.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad event signals the start of the "cobbled classics" season.

It is an International Cycling Union World Tour event.