Race
Terneuzen > Schoten (205.2 km)
Scheldeprijs 2026 - Race profile
08.04
Tim Merlier claimed his third consecutive Scheldeprijs victory with a perfectly timed sprint in Schoten, coming from deep in the peloton to win ahead of Pavel Bittner and Emilien Jeannière. The Belgian overcame an early season knee injury and showed no signs of rust, navigating through the bunch with the help of teammate Bert Van Lerberghe before launching his decisive move. Despite early breakaway attempts and late crashes disrupting several sprinters, the race ultimately came down to an inevitable bunch sprint, where Merlier proved strongest.
Profile
How to watch?
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Route
The Scheldeprijs 2026 begins in Terneuzen in the Netherlands before heading through exposed Zeeland roads where crosswinds can quickly split the peloton. The route passes several small towns before re entering Belgium near Essen after roughly 140 kilometers.
From there, the race continues through the northern Antwerp region toward a finishing circuit in Schoten. The local lap includes narrow streets, wider roads, and a key cobbled section that often stretches the field. Riders also face wind along the Albert Canal before a long, straight run in to the finish on Churchilllaan after four laps totaling just over 200 kilometers.
Read more about the route in our preview.
Favourites
At the Scheldeprijs 2026, Tim Merlier leads the favourites despite a delayed start to his season due to a knee injury, with only one race ridden so far. Meanwhile, Jasper Philipsen arrives in strong form after recent wins and is eager to reverse his runner up finishes behind Merlier.
Dylan Groenewegen also enters with momentum after multiple victories in recent weeks. With several other fast finishers in contention, the race is set up for another high speed sprint battle in Schoten.
Read more about the favourites in our preview and explore the start list via this link.
