Cycling: Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) won the 105th Scheldeprijs. After 200 kilometers, the German prevailed in a mass sprint. In his fifth win of the race, he relegated Elia Viviani (Sky) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) to second place. The mass sprint was also prepared by Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors), who competed in his last race on home soil.
Tom Boonen says goodbye to Belgium at the Scheldeprijs
The media focused on a Belgian before, during and after the race: Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors) competed in his last race on home soil today with the Scheldeprijs. He started in his home town of Mol, so the field drove past his school and kindergarten at the time. It was unclear whether the team would drive for him or for last year's winner Marcel Kittel. A similar scenario could be admired in the Bora-hansgrohe team, because the actual captain, Peter Sagan, put himself at the service of his team throughout the Scheldeprijs. The German Marco Mathis (Katusha-Alpecin) placed in today's leading group. Like many of his fellow escapees, however, he was caught up again early on.
Marcel Kittel wins a very long sprint
The Funk Gruppo Compatto reported about 20 kilometers from the finish. Then the controlled preparations for the mass sprint began. When Tom Boonen presented himself as the locomotive of the sprint train, the spectators realized that they would be driving for Marcel Kittel. Four kilometers before the finish, there was a fall in the field, so that most of the drivers were no longer able to intervene. This severely disrupted the sprint preparation, but the favorite Marcel Kittel was able to prevail in the end with a very long start without any problems. Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) also presented himself as a strong fifth.
Marcel Kittel is the record holder at the Scheldeprijs
The Scheldeprijs was named after the river Schelde. Since the one-day race was held for the first time in 1907, it is one of the oldest in Belgium. Because of its flat topography, the Scheldeprijs is also known as a sprinter classic. Marcel Kittel won last year ahead of Mark Cavendish and André Greipel. With his fourth victory in this race in 2016 he became the sole record holder. In 1978 Dietrich Thurau was the first German to win, and in 1997 Erik Zabel was also successful. Tom Boonen won in 2004 and 2006. Since the Scheldeprijs mostly falls between the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, many pavè specialists use the race as preparation for the mother of all classics.
Result of the 105th Scheldeprijs
Tour Locations | Driver | Country | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Marcel Kittel | Germany | Quick Step Floors |
2. | Elia Viviani | Italy | Sky |
3. | Bouhanni born | France | Cofidis |
4. | Jurgen Roelandts | Belgium | Lotto Soudal |
5. | Pascal Ackermann | Germany | Bora, hansgrohe |
6. | Rudy Barber | France | Ag2r |
7. | Sebastian Langeveld | Netherlands | Cannondale Drapac |
8. | Marc Sarreau | France | FDJ |
9. | Ramon Sinkeldam | Netherlands | Sunweb |
10. | Jonas Van Genechten | Belgium | Cofidis |
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