Michal Kwiatkowski (left) outsprinted world champion Peter Sagan to claim the cobbled classic ©Getty Images

Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski claimed his first victory for Team Sky after out-sprinting world champion Peter Sagan at the end of the E3 Harelbeke cobbled classic in one of the first major events to take place in Belgium since the terrorist attack earlier in the week. 

The one-day International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race was proceeded by a minute’s silence in honour of the victims of the Brussels bombings on Tuesday (March 22), with organisers having also stepped up security for the event.

When the 206 kilometres race got underway an eight-man group at the front was eventually formed but, despite at one stage having a lead of over six minutes, saw that tumble as they approached the Taaienberg climb, at nearly 70km to the finish.

It was there where Belgium’s Tom Boonen and Jürgen Roelandts accelerated from the main field and helped launch an attack, the key move of the day.

Among the move was the Etixx-QuickStep trio of the Czech Republic’s Zdenek Stybar, Italy’s Matteo Trentin and their Dutch rider Nikki Terpstra, while Kwiatkowski and the Slovakian Sagan also made the split.

Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara looked to have dropped out of contention due to a mechanical incident but the 35-year-old utilised his team-mates to pace him back into the breakaway on his final appearance at the race.

The four-time time trial world champion could not claim victory, with Kwiatkowski and Sagan attacking from the break on the penultimate climb of the day at Karnemelkbeekstraat.

The pair worked impressively together for the final 30km of the race to make the finish a head-to-head battle.

A minute's silence was held before the race in honour of the victims of the Brussels bombings
A minute's silence was held before the race in honour of the victims of the Brussels bombings ©Getty Images

Kwiatkowski got the better of the man who succeeded him as world champion last September by jumping clear with 250 metres remaining to sprint to victory in a time of 4 hours 49min 34sec.

Sagan ended four seconds adrift of his rival, the first Polish rider to win a cobbled classic.

“I was perfectly protected by my team-mates, Ian Stannard was always there for me and then me and Peter worked together well,” Kwiatkowski said after securing his first victory for Team Sky, having moved from Etixx-QuickStep at the end of 2015.

“I knew I had really good legs today and I had to go for the win, there was no other option.

“I knew I had to go with a long sprint because his kick is bigger than mine, and that worked out.

“I didn't look back and went full gas to the finish."

Kwiatkowski’s British team-mate Stannard led home the remaining breakaway riders to claim third place, 11 seconds adrift of the race winner.

Cancellara finished fourth among a cluster of riders who ended on the same time as Stannard.