Marcel Kittel beat Mark Cavendish in a photo finish to win the Belgian sprint classic Scheldeprijs for the fourth time in five years.
Kittel was given a perfect lead-out by his Etixx - Quick-Step, but Cavendish (Dimension Data) stayed tight to the German's back wheel and the duo then engaged in a drag race in the last 150m.
Cavendish looked to have enough pace to seal his own fourth Scheldeprijs win, following previous triumphs in 2007, 2008 and 2011, but Kittel held him off by less than half the width of a wheel.
Germany's Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) finished a distant third, while Britain's Dan McLay (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) crossed the line 10th.
The win was Kittel's seventh win of the season, while Cavendish remains on two for the year.
The Manxman's next race will be Paris-Roubaix on Sunday.
Result
1 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step
2 Mark Cavendish (GB) Dimension Data, same time
3 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal, st
4 Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo, st
5 Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, st