Team HTC-Columbia's Bernhard Eisel of Austria beat Sep Vanmarcke of Belgium in a six-way sprint to the finish to win the 2010 Gent-Wevelgem cycling classic.

Pre-race favorite Philippe Gilbert (Team Omega Pharma-Lotto) finished third ahead of American veteran George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team).

The course cut through the windy, flat lands of Belgium's northern Flanders, but included 16 short but steep hills near the end of the 219 kilometer (136 mile) race to weed out the also-rans.

In the long sprint to the finish, Eisel took the early initiative but never wavered as he kept the edge up to the finish line.

Eisel said he has "never liked this race" but that "it is big love now."

The 29-year-old Eisel won a stage in the Tour of Switzerland last year, but called this "my biggest win ever."