Merlier sprints past Philipsen to second win in Schoten
After 203 kilometers of racing from Terneuzen to Schoten, European champion Merlier claimed the promised sprint on Churchilllaan. He won, just like in 2024, ahead of Philipsen. Moschetti took third place on the podium.
At 1:00 PM, the riders prepared themselves in Terneuzen for the 113th edition of the Scheldeprijs. The peloton started heading towards the Westerscheldetunnel, where the official start was given. After 10 kilometers, 8 riders attacked in the open fields of Zeeland: Veistroffer (Lotto), Vandevelde (Team Flanders - Baloise), Colman (Team Flanders - Baloise), Stockman (Unibet - Tietema Rockets), Desal (Wagner Bazin WB), Vermoote (Wagner Bazin WB), Dissel (Beat Cycling Club), and Loohuis (Beat Cycling Club).
On the open roads in Zeeland, the wind had free rein, causing nervousness and eventually breaking the peloton into three groups. There was a moment of chaos, but as the riders entered Essen, everything regrouped behind the breakaway.
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The short echelon nervosity caused the peloton to close in to within 30 seconds of the breakaway. The lead group started to thin out, and new riders joined. Ultimately, 4 leaders remained on the way to Schoten: Eising (Beat Cycling Team), Dens (Team Flanders - Baloise), Desal, and Veistroffer.
In the peloton, the teams of the favorites, Merlier (Soudal - Quick-Step) and Philipsen (Alpecin - Deceuninck), took control. Lidl-Trek also contributed. One by one, the riders in the lead group were dropped. By the time they entered the final lap, Desal and Veistroffer were also caught up.
In the run-up to the final Broekstraat, a crash shocked the peloton. As a result, a smaller group approached the finish line in Schoten. Philipsen began his sprint 250 meters from the finish, but Merlier came from behind with extra speed. The European champion sprinted past Philipsen to secure his second consecutive victory in the Scheldeprijs. Italian Moschetti (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) sprinted towards third place.
