Kristoff Unbeatable at Scheldeprijs

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In a sprint finish at the end of the 103rd Scheldeprijs, the man of the moment, Alexander Kristoff won his 11th race of 2015

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Kristoff Unbeatable at Scheldeprijs
(Photos: © Tim De Waele / Team Katusha)

On Wednesday, Katusha Team’s Alexander Kristoff took the victory in the oldest Flemish race, the 103rd Scheldeprijs. The win marked the 11th of the season for the Norwegian rider.

Kristoff

“It’s unbelievable how the team is going right now. They worked so hard for me today to bring it back for a sprint” he said afterwards. “The break were really strong and they kept their distance well until the end. The last 500 meters, I was in perfect position near the front”.

“I could start when I wanted. We’d used a lot of energy in the last 2km to come to this position, but at the end I saw nobody could come around me so that was good” explained Kristoff.
Joining Kristoff on the podium were Edward Theuns (Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise) and Yauheni Hutarovich (Bretagne-Séché Environnement) after a huge crash in the last few hundred meters saw many of the sprinters on the deck or delayed.

Kristoff could hear the crash unfolding. “We had just moved up before the crash so it was behind me but I could hear it very well” says Kristoff. “It turns a little bit there so it’s always a little dangerous. But this is cycling so it’s always dangerous and crashes can happen”

Kristoff2

A breakaway of seven riders were active throughout the stage, still holding more than one minutes as they came through the finish line with two laps to go. Katusha Team worked all day to keep Alex in contention and once the break was neutralized, they moved him into position for the sprint. Mindful of the riders around him, Kristoff was patient in the sprint and dictated the time to strike, clearing the finish line by almost a bike length.

Alexander Kristoff earned a special award for today’s win, an 18k gold bicycle trophy with 714 diamonds on the wheels, valued at 20,000 euros. “This is a very nice trophy with diamonds and gold. It will look very nice with my others and I will make a special place for it” said Kristoff.

The crash on video

Up next for Kristoff is Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix and many look to Alex as a pre-race favorite to take the win. “I hope I can keep this winning streak going but Roubaix is a different race and I’ve struggled there before”.

“I don’t see myself as the biggest favorite as I haven’t performed there so well in the past but we’ll try. I have never been in the first group at Paris-Roubaix so first I must be there before I can have a chance to win.”

“I always struggle more on the flat cobbles but this year I have very good shape so I hope I can be there until the final where I promise I would be dangerous. I am one of the contenders but there are many. It’s one of the most beautiful races”.

“It’s so hard and you must play the cards right as well as avoid punctures at the wrong time. I hope I can win it someday. I am in good shape and Paris-Roubaix is the last race in this period, so I can give it my all and then rest afterwards, – said Alexander Kristoff.

1. Alexander Kristoff, Team Katusha 4:30:10
2. Edward Theuns, Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
3. Yauheni Hutarovich, Bretagne-Séché Environnement
4. Marc Sarreau, FDJ.fr
5. Danny Van Poppel, Trek Factory Racing
6. Matteo Trentin, Etixx – Quick-Step
7. Nicolas Marini, Nippo – Vini Fantini
8. Michael Van Staeyen, Cofidis, Solutions Credits
9. Tyler Farrar, MTN – Qhubeka
10. Christoph Pfingsten, Bora-Argon 18

71. Zdenek Stybar, Etixx – Quick-Step 0:01:23
72. Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo
116. Jack Bauer, Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 0:03:02
130. Matthew Brammeier, MTN – Qhubeka
142. Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky 0:04:04
151. Luke Rowe, Team Sky 0:04:18
152. Geraint Thomas, Team Sky
153. Ian Stannard,Team Sky
158. Andrew Fenn, Team Sky 0:04:36

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