In contrast to last year, the Belgian riders will compete for their national title over a couple of tough climbs. Defending champion Roelandts is therefore unlikely to feature in the finale again, but there are others to fill the void.
Claeys, Monfort, Gilbert, Van den Broeck, Vanspeybrouck and Vanendert are some of the biggest favourites ahead of the race.
We do have an early break, but unlike in some of the smaller national championships - their gap doesn't immediately rocket up to 20 minutes.
Notably involved in the move are Vantomme and Vanoverschelde.
Clearly determined to prove his competitiveness despite the hard parcours, he catches the leaders just as they go out on the last two laps. The peloton follows a few minutes behind.
The finish is approaching, and other favourites are now starting to move around. Van den Broeck opens a new wave of attacks, involving Hermans, Armee and various Bpost riders.
Nobody gets anywhere, but the break gets pulled back. The peloton has also been reduced to a mere 34 riders with only one climb to go.
As soon as that ascent begins, Monfort and Gilbert are off.
Vanendert, Vanspeybrouck and Vandenbroeck aren't going to miss out either.
More riders - including Claeys - also try to bridge across, but the only one who succeeds is Hermans.
However, the Swedbank rider gets dropped again just before the summit, together with Vanspeybrouck. Monfort meanwhile tries to go solo.
No luck - Gilbert closes the gap a couple of kilometers later. It's looking like a four-way sprint for the win, with two others trailing just off the back.
Still 2.5 km left to ride, but Gilbert tries to catch the others off guard by launching the sprint early - and he does get a gap on Vanendert!
It's still Gilbert in the lead as he passes under the kite, but Vanendert is closing the gap after realising his mistake. Monfort and Van den Broeck on the other hand, seem to have burned themselves out by attacking.
Despite Vanendert's best efforts, Philippe Gilbert can't be stopped!
Van den Broeck does in fact take 2nd, after Vanendert fell through inside the final kilometer. Monfort, Hermans and Vanspeybrouck follow.
Quite a bit of climbing to be dealt with along the road today.
Reigning champion Cornu missed the road race due to registration problems, but has replaced team mate Van Keirsbulck in one of Bpost's two squads today and looks set to defend his jersey for another year.
Nothing is certain on this course, however.
After the easy first third of the race, Cornu is leading as expected.
1
Cornu
2
Vandewalle
10
3
Ghyselinck
15
4
Goddaert
15
5
De Gendt
+ 20
20 km later, some interesting changes have occurred. Cornu has gained time on the pure timetriallists, but road race protagonists Gilbert and Van den Broeck have both gone faster than the Bpost rider!
1
Cornu
2
Vandewalle
18
3
Gilbert
24
4
Ghyselinck
25
5
Van den Broeck
+ 26
1h01'12 for Gilbert at the finish. It's going to be hard for him to take the double, but let's see if he can perhaps overtake Vandewalle for 2nd.
Van den Broeck was beaten into 2nd by Gilbert in the road race, and trails two seconds back on him at the second check. As he crosses the line, that deficit has increased by one more second.
He'll have to wait until next year for revenge.
Vandewalle was a relatively clear second at both intermediates, and that doesn't change in the finale. He matches Gilbert's pace and takes a six second lead.
On paper, Ghyselinck is the 2nd best against the clock - only beaten by Cornu. However, the hills have proven to be a big obstacle for him and he drops another place towards the end - setting the 4th best time at the moment.
That leaves only one man: the strongest rider in the race without a doubt. Cornu is 20 seconds faster than Vandewalle and brings the national champion's title back to Bpost for another season!
