Kittel beats Cav by a tire at Scheldeprijs

Despite Wednesday’s grim, wet weather, Scheldeprijs proved to be a sprinter’s classic in the truest sense, pitting Mark Cavendish against Marcel Kittel in a two-up drag race. Etixx – Quick-Step’s Kittel came out on top in Schoten, Belgium by the narrowest of margins. Dimension Data’s Cavendish had to settle for second after 207.8km of racing, ahead of another top sprinter, Lotto – Soudal’s André Greipel.

“I think it’s a great victory,” said Kittel who recorded a record fourth win at the classic. “I said before the race that the history is not for what I’m racing. I’m racing for joy, for pleasure, for just riding my bike. Even better if I could get the record for wins in the Scheldeprijs.”

Top 10

• 1. Marcel KITTEL, ETIXX – QUICK STEP
• 2. Mark CAVENDISH, DIMENSION DATA
• 3. André GREIPEL, LOTTO SOUDAL
• 4. Edward THEUNS, TREK – SEGAFREDO
• 5. Niccolo BONIFAZIO, TREK – SEGAFREDO
• 6. Danny VAN POPPEL, TEAM SKY
• 7. Nikias ARNDT, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN
• 8. Wouter WIPPERT, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• 9. Dylan GROENEWEGEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO
• 10. Daniel MCLAY, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT

The early breakaway was caught prior to the final 50 kilometers. Two fresh riders were quick to attack the field, Wanty – Groupe Gobert’s Frederik Backaert and Roompot – Oranje Peloton’s Brian van Goethem.

Rain began to fall as a second duo escaped the peloton to chase the leaders, Ag2r La Mondiale’s Sébastien Turgot and Preben van Hecke of Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise. They didn’t make it far, returning to the peloton with 40km to go as the lead duo clung to a 15-second advantage.

With two local laps remaining, the duo was 18 seconds off the front, soaked by the persistent Belgian rain. The peloton made the catch with 26 kilometers left to race.

As the peloton entered the final circuit around Schoten, Lotto – Soudal and Etixx – Quick-Step were in control on the front with a little over 16km to go.

Content to hold out for the sprint, the race settled down until the final run to the finish.

Etixx took charge heading into the final two kilometers. They were soon challenged by LottoNL – Jumbo, but for the most part, it was the Belgians in blue controlling the lead-out.

After a sharp left-hand corner in the final kilometer, the field faced a long, straight drag to the line. Kittel was dropped off with about 200km to go. Dimension Data’s Mark Cavendish pushed up on the right side, closing fast, but could not quite edge out the German sprinter. In part, he was at a disadvantage, as the road curved slightly to the left at the finish, giving the German a slightly shorter line to the end.

“I’m disappointed. You could see we wanted it. The team were really incredible today,” Cavendish said. “I knew I had to be on Kittel’s wheel in the final. I knew he’s got a great lead-out.

“I was coming, coming, then when I got next to him, he just went again. I used to be able to do that, to go again. I just can’t now. It’s not like I f—ed up, really. They were just better today.”

Kittel has previously won Scheldeprijs in 2012, 2013, and 2014, making this, the 104th running of the race, his record-setting fourth victory.

Full results

• 1. Marcel KITTEL, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, in 4:54:05
• 2. Mark CAVENDISH, DIMENSION DATA, at :00
• 3. André GREIPEL, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :00
• 4. Edward THEUNS, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :00
• 5. Niccolo BONIFAZIO, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :00
• 6. Danny VAN POPPEL, TEAM SKY, at :00
• 7. Nikias ARNDT, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at :00
• 8. Wouter WIPPERT, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at :00
• 9. Dylan GROENEWEGEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :00
• 10. Daniel MCLAY, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at :00
• 11. Bert VAN LERBERGHE, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at :00
• 12. Sam BENNETT, BORA-ARGON 18, at :00
• 13. Roy JANS, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at :00
• 14. Michael VAN STAEYEN, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at :00
• 15. Alexander KRISTOFF, TEAM KATUSHA, at :00
• 16. Boris VALLEE, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at :00
• 17. Marc SARREAU, FDJ, at :03
• 18. André LOOIJ, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at :03
• 19. Gediminas BAGDONAS, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at :03
• 20. Erik BASKA, TINKOFF, at :03
• 21. Jakub MARECZKO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at :03
• 22. Fabio SABATINI, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :03
• 23. Mickael DELAGE, FDJ, at :03
• 24. Eryk LATON, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at :03
• 25. Jaroslaw MARYCZ, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at :03
• 26. Jacopo GUARNIERI, TEAM KATUSHA, at :03
• 27. Jonas RICKAERT, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at :09
• 28. Maximiliano Ariel RICHEZE, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :09
• 29. Ramon SINKELDAM, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at :11
• 30. Wesley KREDER, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at :11
• 31. Maciej PATERSKI, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at :11
• 32. Jack BAUER, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at :11
• 33. Jesper ASSELMAN, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at :11
• 34. Marcel SIEBERG, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :14
• 35. Barry MARKUS, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at :14
• 36. Franck BONNAMOUR, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at :20
• 37. Rayane BOUHANNI, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at :20
• 38. Lars Ytting BAK, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :20
• 39. Maxime FARAZIJN, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at :20
• 40. Ignatas KONOVALOVAS, FDJ, at :20
• 41. Jasper DE BUYST, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :20
• 42. Hugo HOULE, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at :20
• 43. Boy VAN POPPEL, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :20
• 44. Arman KAMYSHEV, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :20
• 45. Andrea GUARDINI, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :20
• 46. Elia VIVIANI, TEAM SKY, at :23
• 47. Michael GOGL, TINKOFF, at :25
• 48. Matteo DRAPERI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at :25
• 49. Juraj SAGAN, TINKOFF, at :25
• 50. Michal KOLÁR, TINKOFF, at :25
• 51. Nikolay TRUSOV, TINKOFF, at :25
• 52. Sébastien TURGOT, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at :25
• 53. Gatis SMUKULIS, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :25
• 54. Bert DE BACKER, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at :25
• 55. Adrian KUREK, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at :25
• 56. Grégory RAST, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :25
• 57. Pavel BRUTT, TINKOFF, at :25
• 58. Tom STAMSNIJDER, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at :25
• 59. Ryan MULLEN, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at :25
• 60. Tyler FARRAR, DIMENSION DATA, at :29
• 61. Kenny DE HAES, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at :29
• 62. Simone PONZI, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at :29
• 63. Frederik BACKAERT, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at :29
• 64. Tim DECLERCQ, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at :29
• 65. Shane ARCHBOLD, BORA-ARGON 18, at :29
• 66. Kris BOECKMANS, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :29
• 67. Jelle WALLAYS, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :29
• 68. Tom VAN ASBROECK, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :29
• 69. Robert WAGNER, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :29
• 70. Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :29
• 71. Michael MORKOV, TEAM KATUSHA, at :29
• 72. Rudiger SELIG, BORA-ARGON 18, at :39
• 73. Lukasz WISNIOWSKI, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :39
• 74. Reinardt JANSE VAN RENSBURG, DIMENSION DATA, at :39
• 75. Alexander PORSEV, TEAM KATUSHA, at :39
• 76. Liam BERTAZZO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at :42
• 77. Gianni MOSCON, TEAM SKY, at :42
• 78. Sean DE BIE, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :49
• 79. Scott THWAITES, BORA-ARGON 18, at :51
• 80. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 1:07
• 81. Florian SENECHAL, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at 1:07
• 82. Jan BARTA, BORA-ARGON 18, at 1:18
• 83. Ivar SLIK, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 1:18
• 84. Viacheslav KUZNETSOV, TEAM KATUSHA, at 1:20
• 85. Matteo TRENTIN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 1:23
• 86. Nick DOUGALL, DIMENSION DATA, at 1:27
• 87. Christian KNEES, TEAM SKY, at 1:31
• 88. Preben VAN HECKE, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 1:41
• 89. Enrique SANZ, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at 1:44
• 90. Robin STENUIT, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 1:50
• 91. Zakkari DEMPSTER, BORA-ARGON 18, at 1:52
• 92. Andreas SCHILLINGER, BORA-ARGON 18, at 2:03
• 93. Ramunas NAVARDAUSKAS, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 2:03
• 94. Alexandre PICHOT, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 2:07
• 95. Borut BOZIC, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at 2:07
• 96. Sjoerd VAN GINNEKEN, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 2:07
• 97. Maarten WYNANTS, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 2:07
• 98. Guillaume VAN KEIRSBULCK, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 2:15
• 99. Twan CASTELIJNS, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 2:18
• 100. Jos VAN EMDEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 2:18
• 101. Maarten TJALLINGII, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 2:18
• 102. Kenneth VAN BILSEN, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at 2:18
• 103. Tom BOONEN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 2:18
• 104. Julien MORICE, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 2:18
• 105. Brian VAN GOETHEM, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 2:18
• 106. Dmitriy GRUZDEV, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 2:18
• 107. Stijn STEELS, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 2:18
• 108. Marco HALLER, TEAM KATUSHA, at 2:25
• 109. THOMAS BOUDAT, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 2:44
• 110. Murilo Antonio FISCHER, FDJ, at 3:05
• 111. Fabian CANCELLARA, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 3:05
• 112. Matt BRAMMEIER, DIMENSION DATA, at 3:05
• 113. Adam BLYTHE, TINKOFF, at 3:05
• 114. Pierre-Henri LECUISINIER, FDJ, at 3:05
• 115. Ryan ANDERSON, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 3:05
• 116. Jesse SERGENT, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 3:05
• 117. Frederik VEUCHELEN, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 3:05
• 118. Cyril LEMOINE, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at 3:05
• 119. Yohann GENE, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 3:05
• 120. Sébastien MINARD, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 3:05
• 121. Bernhard EISEL, DIMENSION DATA, at 4:10
• 122. Luke ROWE, TEAM SKY, at 4:10
• 123. Antoine DUCHESNE, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 4:10
• 124. Tom DEVRIENDT, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 4:10
• 125. Frederik FRISON, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 4:10
• 126. Stijn DEVOLDER, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 4:10
• 127. Lieuwe WESTRA, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 4:10
• 128. Maxime DANIEL, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 5:12
• 129. Steven TRONET, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 5:12
• 130. Lars VAN DER HAAR, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 5:12
• 131. Vegard BREEN, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 5:17
• 132. Daniel HOELGAARD, FDJ, at 5:17
• 133. Sebastian LANGEVELD, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 5:17
• 134. Kristoffer SKJERPING, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 5:17
• 135. Brice FEILLU, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 5:17
• 136. Andrew FENN, TEAM SKY, at 5:17
• 137. Jay Robert THOMSON, DIMENSION DATA, at 5:48
• 138. Alan MARANGONI, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 5:48
• 139. Steven LAMMERTINK, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 7:56
• 140. Davide MARTINELLI, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 7:56
• 141. Nico DENZ, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 7:56
• 142. Jean-Marc BIDEAU, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 7:56
• 143. Lukas PÖSTLBERGER, BORA-ARGON 18, at 7:56
• 144. Andrea DAL COL, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at 7:56
• 145. Maxime CAM, FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT, at 7:56
• 146. Lander SEYNAEVE, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 7:56
• 147. Mirko TROSINO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at 7:56
• 148. Chad HAGA, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 7:56
• 149. Nikolay MIHAYLOV, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at 7:56
• 150. Mirko TEDESCHI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at 7:56
• DNF Nils POLITT, TEAM KATUSHA
• DNF Damien GAUDIN, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Maxat AYAZBAYEV, ASTANA PRO TEAM
• DNF Lars BOOM, ASTANA PRO TEAM
• DNF Ian STANNARD, TEAM SKY
• DNF Peter SAGAN, TINKOFF
• DNF Tomasz KIENDYS, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE
• DNF Adrien PETIT, DIRECT ENERGIE
• DNF Berden DE VRIES, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Aimé DEGENDT, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Sander HELVEN, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Jérôme BAUGNIES, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNS Laurens DE VREESE, ASTANA PRO TEAM