Because the men’s race was broadcasted live on TV with 95 kilometers remaining and was thoroughly covered on twitter, when I ran out of the pub to the climb, it was undeniably more exciting.
The early 12 man break had started to fall apart as fatigue began to set in. With just under 50km to go, 4 riders of no particular consequence had a slight advantage over a powerful foursome: Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Tiesj Benoot, and Luke Rowe.
Zak Dempster.
Scott Thwaites and Sylvain Chavanel.
The peloton, led by 4 of Etixx Quick Step’s strongest, was just over a minute in arrears.
Daniel Oss and Antoine Duschene.
Ryan Anderson and Manuel Quinziato.
Hugo Houle followed teammate Gedaminas Bagdonas. 
Steele Von Hoff.
Michel Kreder got a not-so-subtle free ride up the Wolvenberg.
Mitch Docker and Jens Keukeleire. 
Michael Schär and Sam Bewley. 
.
Elia Viviani, Michal Golas, and Josef Cerny.
So with 11 of 13 climbs completed, how did the last 50km go?
Sagan’s group caught the leaders before long and the winning move formed, composed of Sagan, Van Avermaet, Benoot, Rowe, and Alexis Gougeard. The world champion took lots of long pulls while his fellow escapees were happy to take a rest. The quintet never had more than about 50 seconds but it was all they needed. Sagan eventually remembered he wasn’t supposed to deliver his competitors to the finish line fresh and everyone took their turns sitting in the wind, although Gougeard, whether he was tired or playing at tactics, routinely missed his pulls until Rowe told the 22 year old to get up there.
The kilometers ticked by and Etixx Quick Step sent their big engines, Tony Martin and Stijn Vandenbergh, to the front. At 6km to go, the peloton trailed by 50 seconds, and though they slashed the gap with each passing kilometer, it was too late. Gougeard was dropped. Tension seemed high among the remaining 4 in the final kilometer. Sagan and Van Avermaet both have a string of near misses while Benoot is an up-and-comer and Rowe was searching for his first Classics podium. Someone would miss the podium altogether.
In the closing meters, Van Avermaet had had enough and went for it. Sagan jumped but never caught the Belgian’s wheel. Van Avermaet continued his sprint, winning by over a length. Sagan came in second and Benoot rounded out the podium.