Alexander Kristoff wins Tour of Flanders from Niki Terspstra

Alexander Kristoff has won the second Monument of his career this afternoon the in-form Norwegian winning a tense finish to clinch the Tour of Flanders from Etixx-Quick Step's Niki Terpstra. BMC Racing's Greg van Avermaet led the chase home to finish third.

The pair who fought it out for the win had got away from a select front group with a litte under 30km remaining, Kristoff following Tersptra's wheel.

On the day's penultimate climb, the Oude Kwaremont, Team Sky's Geraint Thomas and another Etixx-Quick Step rider, Zdenek Stybar, attacked from the chasing group, but were brought back on the final aascent, the Paterberg.

Subsequently, van Avermaet and Tinkoff-Saxo's Peter Sagan, who would finish fourth, led the pursuit of the two men out in front but haad to play a spectating role as they fought it out for the win in the home straight.

Without managing to shake off Kristofff, Terpstra's only chance of adding the Flanders title to his Paris-Roubaix win last year lay in trying to make the Katusha rider lead him out and beating him the line.

His brinksmanship didn't pay off however, with the Norwegian responding to Terspstra's burst of speed with a quicker one on his own to get back in front of the Dutchman ahead of the line.

"I'm really happy to win today," said Kristoff afterwards, holding his infant son. "It's a big dream and my big goal this season, so I'm happy to have done it."

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Alexander Kristoffof of Katusha, who earlier this week won all three road stages plus the overall at the Three Days of De Panne

I was a little bit nervous at the end when Niki stopped working. I was afraid the group behind us would catch us, so I just kept up a high speed.

I knew if I kept a good speed, but not 100%, that I could still do a good sprint. This has been a great week; it really could not be better.

I knew to follow Niki when he went. Once we got away we worked well together and I convinced him to work with me to the finish, knowing the worst he would get was second place.

He tried to drop me on the Kwaremont and I was suffering there, but I’m actually quite good in these cobbled climbs. I felt I had him under control on the Paterberg, but in truth you never know. I didn’t let him go because I knew he was strong.

I’m happy I managed to go with him and no one came up behind us. I’m a fast finisher so I’m happy I could win.

Etixx-Quick Step's Niki Terpstra, second today, who defends his Paris-Roubaix title next week

I thought [Kristoff] was a good breakaway partner. He's a fast rider for sure, but when we went away we still had three climbs to do. So I thought it was possible for me. I hoped to attack there and do something.

But on the climbs he was super strong. On the Paterberg he set such a good pace that I could hardly even pass him. He showed his strength in the last weeks and it was true again today. In the last 10 kilometers when he was still there, there wasn't much left to do.

In the last 3 kilometres I stayed on his wheel because everyone knows how fast he is in the sprint. I hoped he was too tired to have a perfect sprint at that point. But even then, I came next to him when I launched my sprint, he accelerated, and then showed he was the best guy on the roads today.

He deserved the victory. I have to be happy with my 2nd place. It's a big result in a big Monument. Of course I've had too many 2nd places and my goal is to win, but considering the situation I am satisfied and am excited for next week at Paris-Roubaix.

I'm showing my shape is very good and I am so proud that I will be wearing the No. 1 on my jersey as the defending winner. We will see what can happen next Sunday.

Geraint Thomas of Team Sky, who tackled some of the same climbs on the way to winning the E3 Harelbeke last week, but was 14th today

It's Flanders and it's obviously a hard race. I just lacked that punch which I had last week on the Kwaremont.

I had to have a go as the boys rode so well all day for me. I just didn't quite have the legs at the end. When you're feeling a bit average it feels like everyone is following you. Once I was in that group behind nobody would work together. Everyone was a leader in there and it was just attack after attack.

Everyone in the team committed. We were in a good position all the time and stayed out of trouble. I couldn't have asked for me. It's just a shame I couldn't get a result for them but that's the way bike racing goes I guess.