The world champion managed to avoid the several crashes to burst clear towards the end of the race, leaving Sep Vanmarcke (TLJ) lagging behind over the final climb.
There were three large crashes in the first 150km of the 258, the first two holdings up several riders, and forcing Tiesj Benoot (LTS), Marcus Burghardt (BMC) and Arnaud Demare (FDJ) to abandon. The third crash took out Greg van Avermaet (BMC), the Dutchman tearfully withdrawing due to a broken collarbone.
Several riders attempted attacks through the mid part of the race, but all were halted, with an elite group including Sagan, Cancellara, Tom Boonen (EQS), Michal Kwiatkowski (SKY), Zdenek Stybar (EQS), Geraint Thomas (SKY) and Vanmarcke, who had gone with several attacks to stay towards the front.
Kwiatkowski was prominent with just over 30km to go, shadowed by Sagan, with a small cluster of riders just behind, headed by Cancellara. Vanmarcke joined the two around 20 seconds clear. Cancellara was going hell for leather to try to catch them, passing Kwiatkowski in the process and looking capable of reeling them in.
On the Paterberg, 13km from home, Sagan dug deep and punched away from Vanmarcke. It was not down to the Belgian cracking, more so that Sagan just somehow had so much in reserve, and he opened up a lead of almost 20 seconds as the road returned to flat asphalt after the cobbled climbs.
Cancellara joined Vanmarcke in pursuit, but the damage was already done. Sagan's time trialling prowess was able to carry him safely to the finish, crossing well clear of the chasing duo, with plenty of time to celebrate as he crossed the line, while Vanmarcke appeared to concede second to Cancellara as they came home almost half a minute down.
Tim de Waele
It was a double win for the rainbow jerseys, as Lizzie Armitstead picked up yet another win in a season that looks on course to eclipse her World Championship winning 2015, beating Emma Johannson (WIG) into second, as four of Armitstead's Boels Doelmans team finished inside the top six. Armitstead's third Women's WorldTour win out of five this year puts her back in the overall lead of the women's standings.
Race results
1. Peter Sagan (TNK) 6:10:37
2. Fabian Cancellara (TFS) + :25
3. Sep Vanmarcke (TLJ) + :28
4. Alexander Kristoff (KAT) + :49
5. Luke Rowe (SKY) + :49
6. Dylan van Baarle (CPT) + :49
7. Imanol Erviti (MOV) + :49
8. Zdenek Stybar (EQS) + :49
9. Dimitri Claeys (WGG) + :49
10. Niki Terpstra (EQS) + :49
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