Jan Tratnik claimed victory in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race and called it the “biggest win” of his life”.

The Slovenian finished ahead of Germany’s Nils Politt by three seconds in Belgium in an event that marks the start of the ‘cobbled classics’ season.

Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock was eight seconds behind in eighth place.

“This is the biggest win of my life for sure,” said 34-year-old Tratnik. “I’m more in a domestic role helping the others usually.”

The 202km one-day race in Flanders included 12 hills and nine cobbled sections.

“There were 25 of us with a one-minute lead for a while but I ended up blowing [getting out of breath],” said Pidcock, 24.