World champion Peter Sagan finally won his first race in the rainbow jersey, after winning Gent-Wevelgem from a four-man breakaway.
The Slovakian, who was second again at E3-Harelbeke just days earlier, finally stood on the top step of the podium for the first time since becoming world champion in Richmond.
Sagan beat Sep Vanmarkce (LottoNL-Jumbo), Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Team Katusha) and Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) after instigating their escape on the tougher second ascent of the Kemmelberg.
Organisers had hoped the re-introduction of the climb would make for a more open race, and so it proved with Sagan, Vanmarcke and Cancellara forging clear of a vastly-reduced peloton and catching lone leader Kuznetsov to contest the sprint for victory.
However, the race was overshadowed by the fatal injuries suffered by Wanty-Groupe Gobert rider Antoine Demoitie, who was one of several to crash earlier in the race and later died in hospital as a result of injuries suffered when he was hit by a motorbike.
