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
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Youth Result: Milton Keynes Youth Development Races
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU Sporting 21
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
- TT Result: Hemel Hempstead CC 16m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands
- News: RideLondon Classique