Jimmy Casper stuck in an attack with 120km to go, the descent came too soon for him though and he didnt get anywhere
With 90km to go, theres much more cobbles around now and Stuart O'Grady launched an attack. Last year's winner Roger Hammond, Francis Mourey, Jempy Drucker and Jesus del Nero counter
Hammond is the strongest of the 5 as the peleton look set to catch them all anyway - they have caught O'Grady already.
But no, the four riders come together and are allowed to create a gap.
After 25km - with 65 now to go, Del Nero is dropped by the other 3, as expected (He has 72 Cobbles, the other 3 have 75)
Theres action behind as Thomas is seen hitting the front. Only Jacobs, O'Grady and other Fed-Ex and British Airways riders are in there (Not Albert though, he is waaay back)
The chase group is led by Procycling, B&O and Champion - but they are already 2 minutes down on Thomas' group
But due to the predicament of their teammates, Hammond and Drucker stop relaying. Leaving it to Mourey
With 38km to go, Mourey, Hammond and Drucker have around 2 and a half minutes on the Thomas group and the Welshman is not currently relaying
That soon changes though as a big effort from Thomas gets rid of the Fed-Ex helpers
The gap to the lead group drops to 2 minutes but questions must still be raised about Thomas and Jacobs' motivation as they stop relaying, leaving it all to O'Grady
It seems they were just saving energy though - Jacobs attacks with 23km to go, Thomas counters
The duo catchup with Del Nero who has done admirably to remain a minute behind Mourey, Drucker and Hammond - although helped by only Mourey relaying
Neither Thomas nor Jacobs want to work together, and it looks like theyre using the 'dot' technique. Its working though, they drop del Nero and start closing in on the leading trio
8km to go, and with Thomas and Jacobs just 30 seconds behind, and knowing that Hammond has a better sprint than him - Drucker attacks! He should have plenty of blue bar since he hasnt taken a relay for over 50km.
Hammond goes with him though but Mourey has no answer. The frenchman is quickly caught by Thomas and Jacobs
Hammond drops Drucker. Thomas and Jacobs could still be a danger - but no, theyve decided to sit behind Mourey.
Still, Thomas could still win if he sprints past Mourey and charges towards his fellow countryman at 3km to go but no - he waits an extra kilometre
And by then its too late. Far too late. Roger Hammond wins the Omloop Het Volk for the 2nd year in a row! A shock win for the brit!
Geraint Thomas takes 2nd place, but he could so easily have won had he tried a bit harder
Jempy Drucker clings on to 3rd, ahead of Jacobs
Stuart O'Grady didnt give up after Thomas and Jacobs attacked away from him, he kept at his pace and it was enough to catch and pass an exhausted Mourey to finish 5th
Del Nero hangs on to 7th just ahead of the B&O/Champion/Procycling group who never recovered from the sudden loss of time on Thomas/Jacobs. Paolini sprints to 8th ahead of Veelers, Breschel and Backstedt
