Oscar Freire used his powerful sprint finish to become the first Spaniard to win the 209km Gent-Wevelgem race.

Freire, a three-time world road race champion, beat Swiss Aurelien Clerc and Belgian Wouter Weylandt in a hectic dash to the line at the end of the 70th edition of the midweek race.

"I'm the first Spaniard to win this race and that's really pleasing," Freire said. "Last year I went close to winning but finished third but this time I got it."

The cobbled Kemmelberg climb that was covered twice -- 61km and 37km from the finish -- again inspired several attacks but a new asphalted descent made for a safer race.

Italy's Filippo Pozzato and Denmark's Matti Breschel went clear the first time over the Kemmelberg and were joined by Belgium's Philippe Gilbert but the trio were caught 25km from the finish.

Norway's Kurt Asle-Arvesen and Switzerland's Martin Elmiger then made a strong attack with 20km to go.

They were chased by three other riders, including Arvesen's Australian team mate Stuart O'Grady 10km out, but were pulled back two km from the finish as the main field got ready for the sprint.

Freire hit the front 300 metres from the finish when he cut across the road to disturb his rivals and had the speed to hold on and win.

"It was hard to control things because there was a strong head wind in the final part of the race," Freire said.

"My Rabobank team did a great job and chased the attacks so that everything came back together in the final kilometres. I started my sprint early but I had good legs and got it."

22-year-old Briton Mark Cavendish did not feature in the final shake-up but compatriot Roger Hammond was a creditable tenth.

Cycling's spring classic races continue on Sunday with the Paris-Roubaix over the cobbled farm tracks of northern France.

Reuters