Will Wiebes make it four in a row?
Terneuzen and Schoten are gearing up for another edition of the Scheldeprijs on 3 April. In the women’s race, all eyes are on Lorena Wiebes, who won the first three editions. The provisional men’s start list includes the names of among others Merlier, Démare, Groenewegen and Thijssen.
On Wednesday 3 April, the annual unofficial World Championship for sprinters is back on the programme. The men will start their 205-km ride towards Schoten at 13:00 in Terneuzen. As was the case in the first three editions, the women will start in Schoten. Their starting gun will sound at 11:40 on Churchilllaan, after which a 130-km ride awaits.
Course
For the men, the flag officially goes up just before the Westerschelde tunnel. The peloton then moves across the open plains of Zeeland, where the wind can help determine the outcome of the race, towards the Belgian border. After 75 km, they will leave the Netherlands via Woensdrecht. The riders then head to Essen, Kalmthout, Wuustwezel, Loenhout, Hoogstraten, Brecht and Schilde and for the first time towards Schoten. Three local laps await there, each with a passage over the cobblestones of Broekstraat.
An identical final also awaits the women in and around Schoten. Their race starts on wide roads towards Brasschaat and Kapellen, so their race start might also be influenced by the wind. Via Kalmthout, Wuustwezel, Loenhout, Hoogstraten and Brecht, they return to Schoten to take part in a final that is identical to the men’s.
At around 14:45, we will know whether Lorena Wiebes can triumph for the fourth time in a row on Churchilllaan in Schoten. And at around 17:15, we will find out who will be Jasper Philipsen’s successor.
Participants Men Elite
Among the men, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) will be looking for his first victory in the Scheldeprijs. Sam Welsford, who finished on the podium in Schoten in the past two editions, leads the charge for BORA - hansgrohe. Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team), who has won the race three times in the past (in 2007, 2008, and 2011) and finished third last year, is still uncertain as of today. If the Briton is fit enough to participate in the Scheldeprijs for the ninth and final time, he will wear bib number 111 on April 3rd in honour of his three victories.
Furthermore, fast men Thijssen (Intermarché - Wanty), Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) and De Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) are also taking part in the race.
Participants Women Elite
With three wins in as many editions, Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime) is the absolute favourite. She will once again be competing against the 2023 number two, Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), according to the provisional start list. Kool will have a teammate in the race, Rachele Barbieri, who finished third in Schoten in 2022. At Fenix-Deceuninck, Sanne Cant and Marthe Truyen are the ones to watch out for, according to the provisional start list.
The women’s race can be followed live thanks to Proximus via Pickx live (TV) and the live stream on Pickx.be and in the Pickx app.
