Belgium's Philippe Gilbert of the Francaise des Jeux team won the first big race of the European season, the Het Volk in Ghent.

Gilbert broke away some 50km from the line of the 199km race to beat compatriot Nick Nuyens of the Cofidis team by nearly a minute.

It was his second victory in the race which was being staged for the 63rd time and featured 14 ProTour teams.

Norway's Thor Hushovd of the Credit Agricole team came third, a further eight seconds back.