[1] Ian Stannard (Team Sky), the defending champion from 2014, won the race in a two-man sprint ahead of Niki Terpstra (Etixx–Quick-Step).

[8] ProTeams Professional Continental teams An early breakaway was formed by Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale), Matt Brammeier (MTN–Qhubeka), Christophe Laborie (Bretagne–Séché Environnement), Michael Reihs (Cult Energy Pro Cycling), Kevin Van Melsen (Wanty–Groupe Gobert), Louis Verhelst (Cofidis), Jarosław Marycz (CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice), Sean De Bie (Lotto–Soudal) and Albert Timmer (Team Giant–Alpecin).

The main group did not take up the chase in earnest until they had passed the Muur van Geraardsbergen with 117 kilometres (73 miles) remaining, when Etixx–Quick-Step, Team Sky and LottoNL–Jumbo took control.

Tom Boonen (Etixx–Quick-Step) put in an attack on the Taaienberg (as he had done in many previous editions of the race) and briefly formed a small leading group, but the pack reformed soon afterwards.

Luke Rowe (Team Sky) attacked and joined with Brammeier and Timmer, the only remaining riders in the breakaway; Stijn Vandenbergh (Etixx–Quick-Step) led the peloton in chasing this move down.

Vanmarcke then suffered a puncture, and only four riders remained at the front of the race: Vandenbergh, Boonen and Niki Terpstra from Etixx–Quick-Step and Ian Stannard (Team Sky).

Stannard was the freshest rider in the group, as he had not needed to put any significant effort in the previous section of the race, and he attacked inside the final 3 kilometres (1.9 miles); only Tersptra was able to hold his wheel.

Patrick Lefevere (manager of Etixx–Quick-Step) was annoyed at Stannard's failure to work with his riders in the finale, while Boonen regretted having attacked, suggesting that waiting for a sprint would have been a more effective way to win the race.

[11][12][13] Stannard attributed his victory in part to the difficult tactical situation Etixx–Quick-Step faced, with a strong group only a few seconds behind for a long period of racing.