The Scheldeprijs is a cycling race in Flanders and the Netherlands which starts in Terneuzen, crosses the Scheldt River, and finishes in Schoten.[1] 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.[2]

Scheldeprijs
Race details
DateMid April
RegionAntwerp, Belgium
English nameGrand Prize of the Scheldt
Local name(s)Scheldeprijs (in Dutch)
DisciplineRoad race
CompetitionUCI ProSeries
TypeSingle-day
Web sitewww.scheldeprijs.be Edit this at Wikidata
Men's history
First edition1907 (1907)
Editions112 (as of 2024)
First winner Maurice Leturgie (FRA)
Most wins Marcel Kittel (GER) (5 wins)
Most recent Tim Merlier (BEL)
Women's history
First edition2021 (2021)
Editions4 (as of 2024)
First winner Lorena Wiebes (NED)
Most wins Lorena Wiebes (NED) (4 wins)
Most recent Lorena Wiebes (NED)

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.[3]

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.[4]

History

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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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[N 1] 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."[7]

Route

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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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

Men's Winners

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The following cyclists have won the race:[11]

 
Frenchman Maurice Léturgie won the inaugural Scheldeprijs in 1907.
 
Local cycling icon Rik Van Looy (pictured in the rainbow jersey) won the race twice in the 1950s.
 
Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini claimed two Scheldeprijs wins in the 1990s.
 
Mark Cavendish had his breakthrough win at the 2007 Scheldeprijs, on the T-Mobile Team, and secured two further victories in later years.
 
German sprinter Marcel Kittel holds the record with five wins between 2012 and 2017.
Year Country Rider Team
1907   France Maurice Leturgie
1908   Belgium Adrien Kranskens
1909   Belgium Raymond Van Parijs
1910   Belgium Florent Luyckx
1911   Belgium Florent Luyckx
1912   Belgium Joseph Van Wetter
1913   Belgium Joseph Van Wetter
1914   Belgium Octave Jacques
1915-
1918
No race
1919   Belgium Isidoor Mechant
1920   Belgium Victor Lenaers
1921   Belgium René Vermandel
1922   Belgium Florent Vandenbergh
1923   Belgium Emile Thollembeek
1924   Belgium René Vermandel Alcyon
1925   Belgium Karel Van Hassel
1926   Belgium Jef Dervaes Labor–Dunlop
1927   Belgium Georges Ronsse
1928   Belgium Jef Dervaes
1929   Belgium Joseph Wauters
1930   Belgium Denis Verschueren
1931   Belgium Godefried Devoght
1932   Belgium Godefried Devoght
1933   Belgium Jan-Jozef Horemans
1934   Belgium Léon Tommies Alcyon
1935   Belgium Gerard Loncke
1936   Belgium Marcel Van Schil
1937   Belgium Sylvain Grysolle
1938   Belgium Antoine Dignef
1939   Belgium Achiel Buysse
1940 No race
1941   Belgium Stan Ockers
1942   Belgium Lode Busschops
1943   Belgium Éloi Meulenberg
1944 No race
1945 No race
1946   Belgium Stan Ockers Metropole–Dunlop
1947   Belgium René Mertens
1948   Belgium Achiel Buysse
1949   Belgium Roger Decorte
1950   Belgium André Pieters Ryssel–Wolber
1951   Belgium Ernest Sterckx
1952   Belgium Roger Decorte Alcyon
1953   Netherlands Hans Dekkers
1954   Belgium Roger Decock
1955   Belgium Briek Schotte Alcyon
1956   Belgium Rik Van Looy Faema–Guerra
1957   Belgium Rik Van Looy Faema–Guerra
1958   Belgium Raymond Vrancken
1959   Belgium Willy Butzen
1960   Belgium Piet Oellibrandt Dr. Mann–Dossche Sport
1961   Belgium Raymond Vrancken
1962   Belgium Piet Oellibrandt Theugels–Robur
1963   Belgium Piet Oellibrandt Dr. Mann
1964   Belgium Jos Hoevenaers
1965   Belgium Willy Vannitsen
1966   Belgium Joseph Spruyt
1967   Belgium Paul In 't Ven
1968   Belgium Edward Sels Bic
1969   Belgium Walter Godefroot Flandria–De Clerck–Krüger
1970   Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck Flandria–Mars
1971   Belgium Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck Watney–Avia
1972   Belgium Eddy Merckx Molteni
1973   Belgium Freddy Maertens Flandria–Carpenter–Shimano
1974   Belgium Marc Demeyer Carpenter–Confortluxe–Flandria
1975   Belgium Ronald De Witte Carpenter–Confortluxe–Flandria
1976   Belgium Frans Verbeeck IJsboerke–Colnago
1977   Belgium Marc Demeyer Flandria–Velda–Latina Assicurazioni
1978   West Germany Dietrich Thurau IJsboerke–Gios
1979   Belgium Daniel Willems IJsboerke–Warncke
1980   Belgium Ludo Peeters IJsboerke–Warncke
1981   Netherlands Ad Wijnands TI–Raleigh–Creda
1982   Belgium Ludo Schurgers Masta–Puch
1983   Belgium Jan Bogaert Europ Decor–Dries
1984   Belgium Ludo Peeters Kwantum–Decosol–Yoko
1985   Netherlands Adri van der Poel Kwantum–Decosol–Yoko
1986   Netherlands Jean-Paul van Poppel Skala-Skil
1987   Belgium Etienne De Wilde Sigma
1988   Netherlands Jean-Paul van Poppel Superconfex–Yoko–Opel–Colnago
1989   Belgium Jean-Marie Wampers Panasonic–Isostar–Colnago–Agu
1990   Netherlands John Talen Panasonic–Sportlife
1991   Italy Mario Cipollini Del Tongo
1992   Belgium Wilfried Nelissen Panasonic–Sportlife
1993   Italy Mario Cipollini GB–MG Maglificio
1994   Belgium Peter Van Petegem Trident
1995   Italy Rossano Brasi Polti–Granarolo–Santini
1996   Belgium Frank Vandenbroucke Mapei–GB
1997   Germany Erik Zabel Team Telekom
1998   Netherlands Servais Knaven TVM–Farm Frites
1999   Netherlands Jeroen Blijlevens TVM–Farm Frites
2000   Italy Endrio Leoni Alessio
2001   Italy Endrio Leoni Alessio
2002   Australia Robbie McEwen Lotto–Adecco
2003   Belgium Ludovic Capelle Landbouwkrediet–Colnago
2004   Belgium Tom Boonen Quick-Step–Davitamon
2005   Netherlands Thorwald Veneberg Rabobank
2006   Belgium Tom Boonen Quick-Step–Innergetic
2007   Great Britain Mark Cavendish T-Mobile Team
2008   Great Britain Mark Cavendish Team High Road
2009   Italy Alessandro Petacchi LPR Brakes–Farnese Vini
2010   United States Tyler Farrar Garmin–Transitions
2011   Great Britain Mark Cavendish HTC–Highroad
2012   Germany Marcel Kittel Argos–Shimano
2013   Germany Marcel Kittel Argos–Shimano
2014   Germany Marcel Kittel Giant–Shimano
2015   Norway Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha
2016   Germany Marcel Kittel Etixx–Quick-Step
2017   Germany Marcel Kittel Quick-Step Floors
2018   Netherlands Fabio Jakobsen Quick-Step Floors
2019   Netherlands Fabio Jakobsen Deceuninck–Quick-Step
2020   Australia Caleb Ewan Lotto–Soudal
2021   Belgium Jasper Philipsen Alpecin–Fenix
2022   Norway Alexander Kristoff Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux
2023   Belgium Jasper Philipsen Alpecin–Deceuninck
2024   Belgium Tim Merlier Soudal–Quick-Step

Multiple winners

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Wins Rider Editions
5   Marcel Kittel (GER) 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
3   Piet Oellibrandt (BEL) 1960, 1962, 1963
  Mark Cavendish (GBR) 2007, 2008, 2011
2   Florent Luyckx (BEL) 1910, 1911
  Joseph Van Wetter (BEL) 1912, 1913
  René Vermandel (BEL) 1921, 1924
  Godefried De Vocht (BEL) 1931, 1932
  Achiel Buysse (BEL) 1939, 1948
  Stan Ockers (BEL) 1941, 1946
  Rik Van Looy (BEL) 1956, 1957
  Raymond Vrancken (BEL) 1958, 1961
  Marc Demeyer (BEL) 1974, 1977
  Ludo Peeters (BEL) 1980, 1984
  Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED) 1986, 1988
  Mario Cipollini (ITA) 1991, 1993
  Endrio Leoni (ITA) 2000, 2001
  Tom Boonen (BEL) 2004, 2006
  Fabio Jakobsen (NED) 2018, 2019
  Alexander Kristoff (NOR) 2015, 2022
  Jasper Philipsen (BEL) 2021, 2023

Wins per country

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Wins Country
79   Belgium
11   Netherlands
7   Germany (including   West Germany)
6   Italy
3   Great Britain
2   Australia
  Norway
1   France
  United States

Women's Winners

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Year Country Rider Team
2021   Netherlands Lorena Wiebes Team DSM
2022   Netherlands Lorena Wiebes Team DSM
2023   Netherlands Lorena Wiebes SD Worx
2024   Netherlands Lorena Wiebes Team SD Worx–Protime

Wins per country

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Wins Country
4   Netherlands

References

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  1. ^ Until the 1990s, English language sources tended to refer to the race by the French translation of its name (Grand Prix de l'Escaut), even though the race has always been held wholly within Dutch-speaking territory.
  1. ^ "Scheldeprijs". FirstCycling.com. 2023.
  2. ^ "Scheldeprijs preview: Boonen to back off in sprinters' semi-classic". Velo News. 2012 Competitor Group, Inc. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  3. ^ Weislo, Laura (5 April 2017). "Kittel wins Scheldeprijs for 5th time". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  4. ^ Frattini, Kirsten (7 April 2021). "Lorena Wiebes wins first Scheldeprijs Women". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  5. ^ D'Arcy Price (12 April 2006). "94th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen – 1.HC". Cycling News. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Scheldeprijs / G.P de l'Escaut (Bel) - Cat.1.ProS". Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu (in French).
  7. ^ Jeff Jones (14 April 2004). "92nd Grote Scheldeprijs — Vlaanderen – 1.1". Cycling News. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  8. ^ "The new route of the Scheldeprijs". Flanders Classics. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Reflections from the cobbled classics". Cycling Tips. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  10. ^ "108th Scheldeprijs will start and finish in Schoten". Scheldeprijs (official website). Flanders Classics. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Scheldeprijs". siteducyclisme. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
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