Terpstra started the day fifth in the general classification standings and 27 seconds adrift of Australia's Dennis, but the Etixx-QuickStep rider made up the time on the 197.8km route from Bornem to Geraardsbergen in Belgium.

The 31-year-old benefited from the misfortune of BMC Racing's Dennis, who crashed out in rainy conditions after a touch of wheels in the pack.

He finished second in the race today, behind Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen who claimed the stage win for Dimension Data.

The top two were among a group of nine riders who caught lone breaker Tim Wellens, the Belgian who won the Eneco Tour in 2014.

Two riders from this group also crashed out but the remaining leaders worked together superbly to increase their gap.

Terpstra managed to gain an important nine seconds in the Golden Kilometre - an initiative used in the Eneco Tour which allows the possibility of gaining time on three intermediate sprints.

He was eventually left in a front group of just three riders including Boasson Hagen and Belgium's IAM Cycling man Oliver Naesen.

It was the Norwegian who prevailed, but Terpstra was the highest placed of the general classification riders in contention and did enough for overall glory.

Dennis had attempted to catch up but eventually retired on a course which featured tough cobble-stoned hills, including the famous Muur climb.

"I went to Verona to specifically prepare for the Eneco Tour and the World Championships," said Terpstra. 

"The team time trial played to our advantage and I knew something was possible here. 

"It's fantastic to take the overall win here in Geraardsbergen. 

"The Muur is a mythical place in cycling and I'm pretty proud of this victory against such an impressive field."

The winning overall time for the white leader's jersey was 22 hours 43min 26sec, with Naesen moving up to second in the general classfication, 31 seconds back.

Slovakia's world and European road race champion Peter Sagan moved up to third, finishing exactly a minute behind the leader after two stage wins in this year's race.

Boasson Hagen won the stage in 4:03:27, with Terpstra and Naesen two seconds behind.

Sagan has also taken top spot in the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour standings with just one race to go.

The Slovakian Tinkoff rider has a total of 669 points ahead of Colombia's Movistar rider Nairo Quintana and Britain and Team Sky's Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who have 609 and 564 respectively. 

The only World Tour race remaining this season is the one-day Il Lombardia in Italy on October 1.