Audacious though it was, Niki Terpstra’s race-winning solo attack was no more than the Dutchman has threatened all season. Winner of the Tour of Qatar, having won stage one from the day’s break, and Dwars Door Vlaanderen, second at E3 Harelbeke, fifth at the Omloop, fourth in the Three Days of De Panne and sixth at the Ronde – Terpstra has proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

The 29-year-old was third at Paris-Roubaix last year, having won the sprint for the final podium spot and, while all the focus on Omega Pharma-Quickstep had centred around Tom Boonen’s chances, Terpstra had certainly not slipped under the radar. Roger Hammond was one ex-pro to pick him as a real contender and so it proved. What lies next for Terpstra has yet to be confirmed, but if he starts the Tour de France again, stage five into the Arenberg Forest is one he will relish.