Marcel Kittel (Quickstep) won his 5th Scheldeprijs as Tom Boonen races for the final time in Belgium
![]() |
News: Kittel wins 5th Scheldeprijs
Marcel Kittel was unstoppable at the 105th edition of Scheldeprijs, which marked Tom Boonen’s final pro race in front of his home supporters.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
The 36-year-old Belgian (Boonen), who will retire after Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, was prominent at the front during the entire race – which left from Mol, his birthplace, and passed through his hometown of Balen – and guided the bunch inside the closing stages of the event, before a big crash split the peloton with four kilometers remaining, leaving around 20 riders to fight for victory in Schoten.
Launched by an excellent Matteo Trentin, who picked up lead-out duties after Fabio Sabatini hit the ground, Marcel opened his sprint with 250 meters remaining and held off the charge of Elia Viviani (Team Sky) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) to take his fifth win at Scheldeprijs and extend his record at Flanders’ oldest classic, where he first triumphed in 2012.
“It was some pressure to win, being the defending champion, and I’m happy I could finish off the great job of my teammates. It was an important day also because Tom rode for the last time in Belgium.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
He was incredible during the race, sacrificing himself for the team and for a good result, despite having his big goal of the season on Sunday. He showed again what a great rider he is and I’m happy to end my relationship with him in such a way.
I hope he will have reasons to smile after Paris-Roubaix, where I wish him all the best in his attempt to bring a fifth cobble-shaped trophy home”, said Marcel, who so far this season racked up seven victories.
“The mood in the team is fantastic, we are winning everywhere and that gives us all a huge motivation to keep going like that. You could see that also today, when everyone was involved in the chase, from Tim to Zdenek and from Saba, who unfortunately crashed, to Tom. I’m grateful to all of them! Can’t say how happy I am to win again this race, which I really like a lot”, continued Marcel, who also talked of his plans for the upcoming weeks:
“I’ll now take a break before returning to action at the Tour of California. It will be only my second time there, but I’m looking forward to this race, because it’s very well-organised and the atmosphere is great.”
A two-time winner of Scheldeprijs, Tom Boonen waved goodbye on Wednesday afternoon to his countrymen, who came in huge numbers to cheer for him, in both Mol and Schoten: “Today was unbelievable! I was touched by the warm welcome I received and by the huge support I got from the fans. I would never have dreamed of such incredible moments. I want to thank everyone for turning out and to the organizers for moving the start to Mol, making it a day I will never forget!”
1. Marcel KITTEL Quick-Step Floors
2. Elia VIVIANI Team Sky
3. Nacer BOUHANNI Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
4. Jurgen ROELANDTS Lotto Souda
5. Pascal ACKERMANN Bora – Hansgrohe
6. Rudy BARBIER AG2R La Mondiale
7. JANSE VAN RENSBURGReinardtDimension Data
8. Marc SARREAU FDJ
9. Ramon SINKELDAM Team Sunweb
10. Jonas VAN GENECHTEN Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
39. Jonathan DIBBEN Team Sky
54. Scott THWAITES Dimension Data
101. Owain DOULL Team Sky 3:25
102. Ian STANNARD Team Sky
137. Mark MCNALLY Wanty – Groupe Gobert
138. Thomas SCULLY Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- 2022/2023 National Trophy Cyclocross Series Final Standings
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Wessex CX League, Rd 12
- CX Result: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LVYCC Winter Races 1
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #11
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series Rd 1
- British Cyclocross Championships 2023: Day 2
- British Cyclocross Championships 2023: Day 1
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series Rd 1
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP) 10
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #5 (Hillingdon)
- CX Result: CXNE Round 8 (Herrington)
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League Rd 9
Other News on VeloUK
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist
- News: 2023 British National Road Series
- New Bikes! Ribble’s Reynolds 725 (Gravel bike)
- News: Pedal Club November Meeting
- Info: World Masters Cyclocross (East Suffolk)
- Shows: iceBike Back in 2023
- News: New Sponsorship for CiCLE Classic
- Track Champion’s League: Brits on Fire in Berlin