Spring Classics continue with the Scheldeprijs, Canadians Duchesne and Houle race

Today, the sprinters will have their chance to triumph during Flemish cycling’s holiest week. Often overshadowed by De Ronde and Roubaix, the Scheldeprijs is a classic in its own right with an HC classification and 101 previous winners. Starting in Antwerpen, the mostly flat, 200km parcours begins with a 150km circuit around northern Flanders before returning to the outskirts of Antwerpen for the finale. There, the riders have three, 16km laps to fight it out before the curving, uphill kick to the finish in Schoten. Alternatively, a  breakaway might succeed. In any case, the race will not be a parade; with the peloton in full force and with several sectors of cobblestones along the way, the sprinters’ teams will have to fight hard to control attackers.

The champion of the past two editions, Marcel Kittel, is the favourite to take the win. Arnaud Demarre, Kenny de Haes, Tyler Farrar, Theo Bos, and Alexander Kristoff are other top sprinters in the race. Kristoff, the winner of Milan San Remo, is riding especially well. Both Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel will miss the start due to sickness and injury respectively.

For the men aiming at Roubaix, the Scheldeprijs is a chance to make one last big effort before Sunday. Sep Vanmarcke, Fabian Cancellara, Peter Sagan, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Greg van Avermaet will all be on the start-line. These riders will have to be wary though; one bad crash could ruin their chances to take home a cobblestone.

For Canada, Antoine Duchense is racing for Europcar and Hugo Houle for Ag2r.o