Finally, it looked as though Omega Pharma-Quickstep were going to do it. Hitting the front with 12 kilometres remaining, the Belgian super team shredded the bunch with some superb accelerations on the front.

Tony Martin, in particular, was back to his impressive best as he took several turns to set the pace to phenomenal effect.

And with Niki Terpstra alongside him, the Belgian super team were still on the front under the flamme rouge when Michal Kwiatkowski burst clear of the lead group.

Audacious, or perhaps just a lead-out so fast he lost everyone else behind him, the Pole looked to be ending the team’s hunt for a stage win this year as he earned a few wheel lengths on the bunch.

It was not to be however, as his legs gave up just 400 metres short of the line, but with Mark Renshaw sprinting to fourth it was once again further proof they are still contenders even without Mark Cavendish in the ranks.

Attention will soon turn to supporting Michal Kwiatkowski’s GC bid, with him well placed after the cobbled stage five.

On current form, at least, the Belgian super team should not be discounted from making something happen over the next two weeks.