Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the E3 Harelbeke one-day race, where the big classics riders will look to put down a marker ahead of next weekend's Tour of Flanders.

Thanks for joining us for today's semi-classic in Flanders - a timely reminder of the genius that is Fabian Cancellara.

Replays show that Sagan did indeed pip Oss for second place over the finish.

Tom Boonen leads the peloton over the line 2:17 down on today's winner Cancellara, who has shown his credentials ahead of next weekend's Tour of Flanders.

Thomas settles for fourth place, and it looks like he and Sagan are having words in the run-off area.

Daniel Oss attacks from the chasing group and opens up a gap ahead of the final straight. The Italian just holds on to the win ahead of former team-mate Peter Sagan. They crossed the line 1:07 down on Cancellara.

Victory for Fabian Cancellara who crosses the line with his arms aloft and a determined, dogged look on his face.

Cancellara enters the final kilometre of the race with a smile on his face... he begins the first pumping early...

It looks like the chasing quintet has given up: Cancellara has 1:05 now. It is now just a race for second place.

The race looks increasingly in the hands of Cancellara. He passes the five-to-go banner with 58 seconds over the chasing group. Only a puncture or crash will stop him now.

Cancellara's DS Dirk Demol was driving alongside his rider giving him a team chat and protecting him from the crosswind. He's given a warning by the commissaire and drops back accordingly. Every little helps... clearly: the gap is back to 50 seconds.

Stijn Vandenbergh has been caught by the peloton, which is 2:08 down on the lone leader, Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack). A reminder of the five chasers: Peter Sagan (Cannondale), Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Daniel Oss (BMC), Geraint Thomas (Sky) and Sebastien Langeveld (GreenEdge).

It is not in the bag yet for Cancellara: the Sagan chasing group is combining well and the Swiss's lead is down to 40 seconds.

The peloton is now riding at 2:05 from Cancellara so it's safe to say that no one from there will win - which discounts Boonen, who'se group has been caught by the pack. The chasing group is still one minute down as Spartacus powers up the final climb of the day, the Tiegemberg.

The chasing group is prefering to ride on a narrow dirt track to the side of the road rather than tackle the cobbles - and can you blame them? It looks like that Cancellara has this one wrapped up - although punctures and crashes can always happen (remember the Olympic road race?).

This is Fabian Cancellara at his very best. The Swiss is in time trial mode here on the decent road. But now he's on to another cobbled section, covered in a coating of mud. He has one more climb before the finish and around a minute to play with over the five-man chasing group of Sagan, Chavanel, Oss, Thomas and Langeveld.

Cancellara has 57 seconds over Chavanel, Sagan, Oss, Landeveld and Thomas. They are on a stretch of wide road punctuated by speed humps. Stijn Vandenbergh is riding solo in pursuit of the chasing group. The Boonen-Boasson Hagen group is 1:20 down.

Cancellara has played this brilliantly. Despite Sky and Omega having force in numbers, the Swiss powerhouse made his move with expert precision and he is in control of this race now. The two chasing groups are about 40 seconds apart, with the main pack in sight of the Boonen group.

Along with Sagan in the chasing group with Chavanel, Oss, Thomas and Langeveld. Boasson Hagen has been caught by the Boonen group which is a minute or so down on Cancellara, who is 41 seconds ahead of Sagan's group.

The race is now back on a dual carriageway that heads uphill, allowing us to see the large gap Cancellara has made over his rivals. The chasers are beginning to regroup. Geraint Thomas of Sky is there, but no Boonen or Boasson Hagen. The Norwegian appears to be riding on his own between the two Sagan and Boonen chasing groups.

Peter Sagan tries to follow Cancellara but he doesn't have the strength. So we now have one lone leader, Cancellara, with seven riders in pursuit. Boonen is not one of those seven - he is in a smaller chasing group further back on this latest climb, the Kwaremont.