Scheldeprijs Men LIVE: The sprinters’ teams prepare for a high-speed sprint showdown in Schoten

2026-04-08T14:14:12.293Z

Some breaking news: Isaac del Toro crashed hard at Itzulia Basque Country and has been forced to abandon the race.

2026-04-08T13:55:48.972Z

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.

2026-04-08T13:47:47.433Z

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.

2026-04-08T13:40:40.916Z

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.

2026-04-08T13:12:58.433Z

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.

Their lead is pegged at 2:20.

“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.

2026-04-08T12:30:41.504Z

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 didn’t expect to still be participating in this race,” the 2024 and 2025 winner told Sporza at the start.

“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.”

2026-04-08T12:21:53.305Z

Picnic PostNL are helping Unibet and Soudal with the chase, putting a rider on the front too. They are surely working for Pavel Bittner

2026-04-08T12:18:13.033Z

Our live coverage from the Basque Country is also underway. It’s a great day of racing.

2026-04-08T12:16:40.050Z

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.

2026-04-08T12:07:34.593Z

The flat, straight roads of Zeeland.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-08T12:06:39.522Z

It’s lined out in the peloton but not too fast, for now.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-08T12:05:12.842Z

We have the first race shots from our photographers out on the road.

This was the first attack in the tunnel.

This is our story on the matter.

2026-04-08T11:28:47.848Z

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).

They have a gap of 30 seconds.

2026-04-08T11:23:54.847Z

The race has dived into the Westerscheldetunnel that passes under the sea and takes the race to the Zeeland area of the Netherlands.

It is cycling’s equivalent of the dark side of the Moon.

2026-04-08T11:16:51.743Z

The trio have a gap but the peloton is chasing them. Race on!

2026-04-08T11:14:44.527Z

“All the best guys for this race today.”

“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.”

2026-04-08T11:05:54.182Z

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.

“I feel a bit at home,” he said before the start. His tactical message to his riders: “Stay calm and then do your thing.”

2026-04-08T10:58:56.789Z

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 Spring season has already been a success, so in that respect it doesn’t matter much. Of course, it would be a nice cherry on top of the cake,” he told HLN at the sign-on podium.

“Anything is possible, but the weather is very nice today. The wind won’t really cause any crazy things today, but of course you never know what other teams want. So always stay alert!”

2026-04-08T10:57:05.590Z

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.

2026-04-08T10:51:52.661Z

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.

The women’s Scheldeprijs is already underway and you can follow all the action via our live updates. Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) won the 2025 Scheldeprijs Women race.

2026-04-08T10:44:06.535Z

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.”

2026-04-08T10:39:53.577Z

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).

2026-04-08T10:36:03.514Z

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.

2026-04-08T10:33:55.284Z

The riders are currently signing on in the sun in Terneuzen.

2026-04-08T10:31:38.225Z

The 2025 Scheldeprijs was a classic edition, with an early break, a fast chase, attacks and then the thrilling sprint finish.

Look back over the 2025 via our race report.

2026-04-08T10:25:33.977Z

The riders cover the circuit three times before the expected high-speed, high-stakes sprint finish.

2026-04-08T10:24:32.521Z

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.

2026-04-08T10:22:30.930Z

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.

2026-04-08T10:19:02.449Z

This is the map of the race.

(Image credit: Flanders classics)

2026-04-08T10:14:14.781Z

It’s only April 8 but spring has sprung in nothern Europe, with temperatures of 18C and little forecast for the day.

2026-04-08T10:11:27.884Z

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.