Peter Sagan has won Belgian cobbled Classic Gent-Wevelgem for the third time, beating Quick Step Floors rider Elia Viliani into second place, with TV cameras showing the Italian in tears.

Viviani had managed to stay with the group that contested the win at the end of the 251.1-kilometre race and, boxed in, chose to follow the wheel of FDJ’s Arnaud Demare, who on the approach to the line veered across to the left.

The Quick Step Floors rider passed the Frenchman, but Sagan – who had launched his sprint on the left-hand side of the finishing straight – proved too powerful for him, much to Viviani’s frustration as he thumped his handlebars after finishing second.

Had Viviani crossed the line first, it would have been the biggest careeer win on the road for the Olympic Omnium champion, who has been on fire in the early months of 2018, with six victories – and with his Quick Step Floors team throwing its unrivalled collective skills over the cobbles behind him today, he was left in tears afterwards.