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Cycling-Paolini the smartest as Italian veteran wins Gent-Wevelgem

March 29 (Reuters) - Italian veteran Luca Paolini outwitted a select group of favourites to win the Gent-Wevelgem one-day classic in difficult conditions on Sunday. The 38-year-old Katusha rider attacked from a small group of top guns six kilometres from the line and never looked back, prevailing at the end of a 239-km trek in the Flanders region, featuring cobbled sections and short climbs. Dutchman Nikki Terpstra (Etixx-Quick Step) finished second ahead of Briton Geraint Thomas (Sky), who had earlier recovered from a crash into a ditch after being blown off the road by a wind gust. Paolini, who usually plays domestique de luxe for Norway's Alexander Kristoff, joined the winning break 60 kms from the finish after gusty winds had blown the peloton into pieces. The crafty Italian bided his time in the seven-man group chasing early breakaway rider Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal) of Belgium, who fought wind and rain on his own for about 100 kms. Thomas, who won the GP E3 one-day race in intimidating fashion on Friday, looked the strongest again but he had already done his job in the group when Paolini made his move. With two riders in the group (Terpstra and Belgian Stijn Vandenbergh), Etixx-Quick Step had the best card to play yet they only managed second and fourth place. The Flanders classics campaign continues with the Tour of Flanders, the second of five 'Monument' one-day races, next Sunday. (Reporting by Julien Pretot in Paris; Editing by Mark Meadows)