The race was punctuated by attacks in the Surrey Hills, but not before a five-man break had gone clear on the relatively flat opening part of the race – Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Julien Duval (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Twan Castelijns (LottoNL-Jumbo), Wesley Kreder (Wanty Groupe-Gobert) and Iljo Keisse (QuickStep Floors) going clear.

Team Sunweb were doing much of the pace-setting in the bunch, while – with Duval and Kreder dropped in the hills – Team Sky helped ramp up the pace on the Ranmore Common climb.

When the original escapees were reeled in, it laid a platform for more attacks and Trentin, Peter Kennaugh (QuickStep Floors) and Daryl Impey (Orica-Scott) were the three to earn a gap.

Kennaugh dropped back to the regrouping peloton shortly afterwards, but Stuyven bridged across shortly afterwards as the gap held at a small, but consistent 30 seconds.

RideLondon-Surrey Classic 2017: result

1) Alexander Kristoff (NOR) – Katusha-Alpecin – 4.05.41hrs
2) Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN) – Orica-Scott – ST
3) Michael Matthews (AUS) – Team Sunweb
4) Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) – Cannondale-Drapac
5) Wout Wippert (NED) – Cannondale-Drapac
6) Jempy Drucker (LUX) – BMC Racing
7) Zak Dempster (AUS) – Israel Cycling Academy
8) Sam Bennett (IRL) – Bora-hansgrohe
9) Rudy Barbier (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
10) Oliver Naesen (BEL) – Ag2r-La Mondiale