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The average speed for the first hour of racing was 43km/h, indicating the controlled racing and the headwind in Zeeland. We expected the speed to rise more and more.
The crowds are already out in the finish area of Schoten after seeing the women’s race. They are now enjoying dome frites and a beer. The riders pass the finish line for the first time with 50km to go and cover three and half lap of the 17km circuit.
Scheldeprijs sits between the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. This special feature by Matilda Price and James Moultrie looks back to the Rnde and forward to the Hell of the North.
Robin Carpenter (Modern Adventure), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto-Isorex), Joost Nat (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Dissel Bram (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Harteel Jelle (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Durić Dorde (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) are still clear of the peloton.
The women’s Scheldeprijs has just ended but we will not spoiler it for you. Check out our live coverage and then full report for all the details.
And the peloton lined out.
We can see who is chasing the break.
We have more great pics of the peloton at speed.
Jasper Philipsen has won Scheldeprijs twice and wants a third victory. However he revealed to Nieuwsblad that is struggling to get over a cold.
“Hopefully, we will see a nice mass sprint at the end. Dylan Groenewegen is in a winning flow. Tim Merlier is returning from injury, but given the weather conditions, I don’t expect a tough race. That will also work to his advantage.
“I’ve had a cold since Milan-San Remo and I’m having trouble getting rid of it. It’s not that it has much impact on how I feel on the bike.”
Merlier’s rivals expect him to be a threat.
“Merlier is returning from injury, but given the weather conditions, I don’t expect a tough race. That will work to his advantage,” Japser Philipsen told Sporza.
Tim Merlier no longer has knee pain but is still working on his form and sprinting speed. Yet he should not be ruled out in the sprint.
“I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t expect a result. I’m hoping for a podium finish, but if things go 110 percent right… why not?
“I’m starting with that ambition. I need to convey that to my teammates so they are willing to do the work 110 percent for me.”
Picnic PostNL are helping Unibet and Soudal with the chase, putting a rider on the front too. They are surely working for Pavel Bittner
Our live coverage from the Basque Country is also underway. It’s a great day of racing.
Robin Carpenter (Modern Adventure), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto-Isorex), Joost Nat (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Dissel Bram (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Harteel Jelle (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Durić Dorde (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) have extended their lead to 2:40 as Soudal and Unibet lead the peloton.
The flat, straight roads of Zeeland.
It’s lined out in the peloton but not too fast, for now.
We have the first race shots from our photographers out on the road.
According to our colleagues at Wielerflits, the Scheldeprijs riders were warned about riding through any level crossing during today’s race.
This is our story on the matter.
Investigation identifies 54 riders as skipping level crossing red signal at Tour of Flanders
Soudal and Unibet are leading the peloton but they are happy to let thew break go clear and gain a few minutes, but they will ride to keep them under control.
In the dark of the tunnel, three other riders have jonied the attack to create a move of six riders. Also off the front are Dissel Bram (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Harteel Jelle (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Durić Dorde (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali).
The race has dived into the Westerscheldetunnel that passes under the sea and takes the race to the Zeeland area of the Netherlands.
The trio have a gap but the peloton is chasing them. Race on!
“All the best guys for this race today.”
The men left Terneuzen for a journey of 205 km through Zeeland towards Schoten! 🚀 #SP26 #SPmen pic.twitter.com/qWRcaAJoa2April 8, 2026
We imediately have the first attack: Americans Robin Carpenter and Jonah Killy, plus Dutchman Joost Nat make the first move.
A minute’s silence was held in Terneuzen in memory of Piet De Smet, the former chairman of the Scheldeprijs organisers, who passed away last week.
“I feel a bit at home, especially later at the finish in Schoten,” Kittel told Sporza.
“The last circuit in Schoten is always hectic. There is little room to move forward. You have to choose your moments as a team, you have to do it together.”
Kittel will be in the Unibet team car today.
“I still feel involved in these races as a rider. It is an intense experience, and as an athlete, I found that the most beautiful thing of all. I hope we can experience those emotions again today.”
Marcel Kittel is known as “Mister Scheldeprijs” after winning the race five times. Now he is the sprint coach sat Unibet, helping Groenewegen and his lead out.
Dylan Groenwegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), has won four sprints already in 2026 and is hoping for to add a cherry to his cake of spring success.
The riders will roll out of Terneuzen when the church bell strikes 1pm local time. They then face a 4km neutralised sector before the race starts.
It’s another busy day of racing but as always, Cyclingnews has you covered. Today is stage 3 of the Itzulia Basque Country as Paul Seixas continues to dominate.
Tim Merlier has only ridden one race due to his injuries, finishing 19th in the Grote prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré on March 19. He has trained since then but is still working to find his best form.
“My shape is getting better and better, so I look forward to being there. I would love to be in the mix for a good result, but I know it won’t be easy, because others are in better form,” he said via his Soudal team recently.
“Nevertheless, I will give my best, like I always do, and we’ll see what I’ll achieve at the end of the day.”
Other sprinters we will be watching for include Jordi Meeus (Red Bull), Britain’s Robert Donaldson (Jayco-Alula), Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet), Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello-Q36.5), Hugo Hofstetter (NSN) and Tim Torn Teutenberg (lidl-Trek).
Tim Merlier wears race number 1 as the previous winner. However due to his injuries in the early and pre-season, he is not the favourite to win the sprint. That title perhaps goes to Jasper Philipsen, the rider Merlier beat in 2025.
The riders are currently signing on in the sun in Terneuzen.
The 2025 Scheldeprijs was a classic edition, with an early break, a fast chase, attacks and then the thrilling sprint finish.
The riders cover the circuit three times before the expected high-speed, high-stakes sprint finish.
With 140 kilometres of flat racing to go, the riders reach the Belgian border in Essen, near Antwerp. Then heads south to Schoten to begin the 16.9km finishing circuit.
As the map shows, the race starts in the Dutch town of Terneuzen, close to the Belgian border. The riders pass through the Westerscheldetunnel and then cover some exposed roads in the Netherlands before riding east.
This is the map of the race.
It’s only April 8 but spring has sprung in nothern Europe, with temperatures of 18C and little forecast for the day.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Scheldeprijs men’s race. This is the sprinters’ Classics but should be another day of great racing.
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