The race was the eighth event in the inaugural UCI World Ranking series.

Six riders then eventually broke away from the rest of the peloton: Tom Boonen, Juan Antonio Flecha, Leif Hoste, Thor Hushovd, Filippo Pozzato and Johan Van Summeren.

At Carrefour de l'arbre, about 15 kilometres from the finish, Flecha crashed and took Hoste with him in his fall.

Van Summeren and Pozzato were held back which allowed Boonen and Hushovd to break away.

Pozzato came to within 10 seconds but never managed to close the gap, allowing Boonen to win.