Scheldeprijs

History

The first Scheldeprijs was organised by the Antwerp branch of the Belgian cycling federation (BWB) on 8 July 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. 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."

Women's race

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. In 2026, the race joined the UCI ProSeries.

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:

Multiple winners

Wins per country

Women's Winners

Wins per country

References

References

1. (2023). "Scheldeprijs".
2. (3 April 2012). "Scheldeprijs preview: Boonen to back off in sprinters' semi-classic". 2012 Competitor Group, Inc..
3. (5 April 2017). "Kittel wins Scheldeprijs for 5th time". [[Immediate Media Company]].
4. D'Arcy Price. (12 April 2006). "94th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen – 1.HC".
5. "Scheldeprijs / G.P de l'Escaut (Bel) - Cat.1.ProS". Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu.
6. Jeff Jones. (14 April 2004). "92nd Grote Scheldeprijs — Vlaanderen – 1.1".
7. (7 April 2021). "Lorena Wiebes wins first Scheldeprijs Women". [[Immediate Media Company]].
8. "UCI Cycling calendar 2026".
9. "The new route of the Scheldeprijs".
10. (27 April 2012). "Reflections from the cobbled classics". Cycling Tips.
11. "108th Scheldeprijs will start and finish in Schoten". Flanders Classics.
12. "Scheldeprijs". siteducyclisme.