Before the stage started , there was a minute 's silence to acknowledge the bombings in Brussels that morning , with many riders – especially the Belgians – wearing black armbands . There was a four-man early breakaway that included two Belgians – Boris Dron ( ) and Thomas De Gendt ( ) – alongside Kamil Gradek ( Verva ActiveJet ) and Maxime Bouet ( Etixx – QuickStep ) . Dron was first across both categorised climbs , with De Gendt winning both intermediate sprints and the associated bonus seconds . Dron fell away from the break with remaining ; shortly afterwards De Gendt attacked alone . About later , however , he gave up on his effort , as Cofidis were chasing too hard in the main peloton
bombings in Brussels that morning
2016 Brussels bombings
2016 Volta a Catalunya