Scheldeprijs

The Scheldeprijs is a cycling race in Flanders and the Netherlands which starts in Terneuzen, crosses the Scheldt River, and finishes in Schoten. Until 2018 it was held entirely in Belgium. The event, ranked as a 1.Pro race on the UCI ProSeries, features mostly sprinters on its roll of honour, as it is held on all-flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres.

First held in 1907, it is the oldest still-existing cycling event in Flanders, notably six years older than the Tour of Flanders monument race. The race had its only interruptions during both World Wars and celebrated its 100th edition in 2012. German sprinter Marcel Kittel holds the record with five wins.

File:Schoten - Scheldeprijs, 8 april 2015, aankomst (C13).JPG

Scheldeprijs finish passage in Schoten, 8 April 2015

Since 2021, a women's edition of Scheldeprijs is held on the same day as the men's race, starting and finishing in Schoten, approximately 136 kilometres in distance. Lorena Wiebes won the inaugural edition.

History

The first Scheldeprijs was organised by the Antwerp branch of the Belgian cycling federation (BWB) on July 8, 1907 – making it the oldest cycling race in Flanders. In its early years it started and ended in Antwerp, finishing at the now demolished Zurenborg velodrome. Later the start moved to Merksem and then Deurne, on the outskirts of Antwerp. In 1996, the start moved back to the centre of Antwerp. The inaugural race in 1907 was won by Frenchman Maurice Léturgie. It would be 46 years before another non-Belgian – Dutchman Hans Dekkers – triumphed in 1953.

From the 1980s until 2009, the race was held in mid-April on the Wednesday following Paris–Roubaix. In 2010, when the Scheldeprijs was purchased by Flanders Classics, the event swapped dates with Gent–Wevelgem and has since been held on the Wednesday between the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix. It has formerly been known as Scheldeprijs Schoten and Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen.Template:Refn Since 2010, the race is simply known as Scheldeprijs.

Prominent winners include Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy, Mario Cipollini, Freddy Maertens, Roger De Vlaeminck, Erik Zabel, Briek Schotte, Stan Ockers, Georges Ronsse, Mark Cavendish, and Tom Boonen. German sprinter Marcel Kittel holds the record for most wins with five victories between 2012 and 2017. Belgian classics specialist Johan Museeuw, who finished second in 1992 and 1997, chose the 2004 event as his final race, saying, "I could have retired after Paris–Roubaix but I felt it important that my last race should be in Belgium. The Scheldeprijs is a great race and I especially love the start on Antwerp's market place."

Route

The current route, starting with the 2018 edition, rolls out from Terneuzen, then passes through the Western Scheldt Tunnel before racing starts near Ellewoutsdijk. It takes a 129.8 kilometre tour of the islands of Walcheren, North and South Beveland in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands before crossing the border into Belgium, taking three laps on a local circuit and finishing at Churchilllaan in Schoten.

The previous racecourse consisted of one 155 kilometres lap in the countryside of Antwerp province followed by three smaller laps of 15 kilometres in and around Schoten. That route included seven cobbled sections varying between 1300 and 3000 metres. The race had a neutralised start on the banks of the River Schelde in the centre of Antwerp at the Grote Markt outside the City Hall. Racing begins in Schoten, a few kilometres northeast. The finish was outside Schoten town hall.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition was postponed from the spring to 14 October, and a revised route of 10 laps around Schoten planned, remaining entirely in Belgian territory.

Men's Winners

The following cyclists have won the race:

File:Maurice Léturgie.jpg

Frenchman Maurice Léturgie won the inaugural Scheldeprijs in 1907.

File:Rik van Looy 1962 (cropped).jpg

Local cycling icon Rik Van Looy (pictured in the rainbow jersey) won the race twice in the 1950s.

File:Mario CIPOLLINI 1.jpg

Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini claimed two Scheldeprijs wins in the 1990s.

File:CAVENDISH mark.JPG

Mark Cavendish had his breakthrough win at the 2007 Scheldeprijs, on the T-Mobile Team, and secured two further victories in later years.

File:DM Rad 2017 Männer EK 063 Marcel Kittel (cropped).jpg

German sprinter Marcel Kittel holds the record with five wins between 2012 and 2017.

Multiple winners

Wins	Rider	Editions
5	Template:Flagathlete	2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
3	Template:Flagathlete	1960, 1962, 1963
	Template:Flagathlete	2007, 2008, 2011
2	Template:Flagathlete	1910, 1911
	Template:Flagathlete	1912, 1913
	Template:Flagathlete	1921, 1924
	Template:Flagathlete	1931, 1932
	Template:Flagathlete	1939, 1948
	Template:Flagathlete	1941, 1946
	Template:Flagathlete	1956, 1957
	Template:Flagathlete	1958, 1961
	Template:Flagathlete	1974, 1977
	Template:Flagathlete	1980, 1984
	Template:Flagathlete	1986, 1988
	Template:Flagathlete	1991, 1993
	Template:Flagathlete	2000, 2001
	Template:Flagathlete	2004, 2006
	Template:Flagathlete	2018, 2019
	Template:Flagathlete	2015, 2022
	Template:Flagathlete	2021, 2023
	Template:Flagathlete	2024, 2025

Wins per country

Wins	Country
80
11
7	Template:GER (including )
6
3	Template:GBR2
2
1

Women's Winners

File:Lorena Wiebes (NED) 2020.jpg

Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes won the first four editions of the women's Scheldeprijs.

Wins per country

Wins	Country
4
1

External links

• Template:Official website