Omega Pharma–Lotto rider Philippe Gilbert achieved his 17th race win of the season after launching several late-race attacks.

[2] Team Sky's Rigoberto Urán completed the podium, nine seconds down on Gilbert and Gesink.

Gilbert's victory also meant that he would finish the World Tour season, as the number one ranked rider after many of his closest rivals, including his nearest challenger Cadel Evans of BMC Racing Team, elected to finish their seasons early and not challenge for points in the remaining three World Tour events on the calendar.

[4] As the race was held under the auspices of the UCI World Tour, all eighteen ProTour teams were invited automatically.

Four additional wildcard invitations were given – Cofidis, FDJ, SpiderTech–C10 and Team Europcar – to form the event's 22-team peloton.