[11] The starting field featured the previous year's winner Moreno Argentin,[10] who was seen as the race favorite by many journalists and the Austrian bookmakers.

[13][11][15] Guido Bontempi (Italy), Sean Kelly (Ireland), Teun van Vliet (Dutch), and Eric Vanderaerden (Belgium) as other riders capable of winning the race.

"[13] Cees Olsthoorn of Het vrije volk believed that Steven Rooks and van Vliet were the Dutch riders with the best chances of winning.

[17] Giro d'Italia and Tour de France winner Stephen Roche was viewed as a contender due to his great form throughout the season.

"[18][19] Portugal's Orlando Neves attacked off the front of the peloton early and established a lead of nearly two minutes, but was caught by the main field 75 km (47 mi) later.

[18] On the eighteenth lap, Jan Nevens (Belgium), Argentin (Italy), van Vliet (Dutch), and Juan Fernández (Spain) formed a breakaway.

[19][20] As the riders chased the leaders, Roche (Ireland) and Steve Bauer (Canada) led a group of fifteen to join the leading four during the twenty-first lap.

[16][19][20] Shortly after joining the lead bunch, Erik Breukink made a move off the front, only to be caught by Belgian Jozef Lieckens.

[25] Michel Deruns of L'Impartial felt that the race was one of the best in the past twenty years in the event, with Roche being the only rider deserving of winning.

"[19] Fellow countryman, Adri Van der Poel felt the Dutch team had a strong showing and commented: "If we can continue to build with this group, there will be more in the future.