Frenchman Laurent Jalabert broke away from the peloton at from the finish but was caught later, before the Côte de La Redoute. On La Redoute, a duel unfolded between Frank Vandenbroucke and Michele Bartoli. Bartoli, seeking a third consecutive win and winner of La Flèche Wallonne earlier in the week, attacked on the lower slopes of the climb, before being joined by Vandenbroucke. The two riders sprinted shoulder to shoulder for 10 seconds, before Vandenbroucke broke clear on the steep upper slopes and reached the top with ten seconds on Bartoli, Michael Boogerd and Maarten den Bakker.