It was held on 25 March 2012 over a distance of 234.6 kilometres (145.8 miles),[1] and was the seventh race of the 2012 UCI World Tour season.

In a mass sprint finish, the race was won by Omega Pharma–Quick-Step rider Tom Boonen,[2] who in the process, became the fifth different rider to win the race three times.

Boonen finished ahead of Liquigas–Cannondale's Peter Sagan and Rabobank's Matti Breschel, who completed the podium.

Seven other squads were given wildcard places into the race,[4] and as such, formed the event's 25-team peloton.

AA Drink–leontien.nl rider Lizzie Armitstead won after a solo breakaway of nearly 40 km (24.9 mi).