Five riders went in the day's breakaway, intent on spoiling the sprinter's party. Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates), Jonas Rutsch (EF Education-EasyPost), Ceriel Desal and Ludovic Robeet (Bingoal WB), plus Aaron Van Poucke (Team Flanders - Baloise).
With 18km to go, the break was finally reeled in and attention in the peloton was swiftly switched to the upcoming bunch sprint finish.
A fierce battle for position was taking place at the front of the peloton, the likes of the INEOS Grenadiers,
Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lotto Dstny all fighting for position.
With 1.7km to go, one of the contenders for the win, Sam Welsford crashed and crashed hard by the looks of it.
In the final sprint to the line, it was a dominant victory for Jasper Philipsen, taking his 11th victory of the season.