Race analysis, favourites, and predictions for Scheldeprijs 2025

On the Wednesday between the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, the Scheldeprijs offers a course for sprinters. First held in 1907, it is the oldest Flemish classic still being contested today. The race runs between Terneuzen in the Netherlands and Schoten on the outskirts of Antwerp, over a mostly flat route.

 
Route

The race totals 202 kilometers with only 560 meters of accumulated elevation gain. The final circuit around Schoten is 17 km long and includes the cobbled Broekstraat sector (1.7 km) as its only difficulty.

 
Favorites

In recent editions, winners include sprinters like Tim Merlier (1000) (2024), Jasper Philipsen (1200) (2023, 2021), Alexander Kristoff (800) (2022), and Caleb Ewan (400) (2020), highlighting that this is a race for the fastest men.

This year's key contenders include Jasper Philipsen (1200), Tim Merlier (1000), Dylan Groenewegen (800), Alexander Kristoff (800), Jordi Meeus (600), Gerben Thijssen (600), Alberto Dainese (400), Ethan Vernon (400), Sam Welsford (400), Milan Fretin (400), Pavel Bittner (400), Matteo Moschetti (200), Elia Viviani (200), Erlend Blikra (200), and Gleb Syritsa (200).

 
Photo: © Scheldeprijs / Flanders Classics