Kittel sprints to win Scheldeprijs

Marcel Kittel (Team Argos-Shimano) prevailed in a hectic sprint finale to win the Scheldeprijs for a second straight year. Three-time champion Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) finished in second place, denied a chance for a record fourth Scheldeprijs victory, while Barry Markus (Vacansoleil-DCM) rounded out the podium in third place.

Andrea Guardini (Astana) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) crossed the line in fourth and fifth respectively in a sprint finale in which no single team was able to assert its authority.

"Because I was the winner of last year's edition, everybody, including myself, expected that I would repeat the trick," said Kittel. "Plus, we really made a goal of it after De Panne as well, so I felt some pressure. But right from the start I felt pretty good and I had a lot of faith in a positive outcome. The guys helped me throughout the whole race to save my energy.

"In the end no team was able to do a very good lead-out. I thought I was boxed in, but Tom Veelers found me and brought me back to the front and did the lead-out perfectly. I started to sprint and thought somebody would pass me, but no one did and I took the victory!"

Kittel was particularly pleased with the result, having had a bad patch of results due to illness.

"I am super happy with this win, as the season has already had some ups and downs," said Kittel. "After Paris-Nice I got sick and had the flu, and the Driedaagse De Panne, which was a big goal for me, didn't go well, as I was not in top shape. During that race I regained my form, though, and I was really focused on taking the win in the Scheldeprijs.

"This is absolutely great, but I have to say that without the teamwork we had today, I couldn't have done it."

Cavendish was sullen after the finish, ruing what might have been as his lead-out train derailed in the approach to the line. "I came from about 20 [places] back with 200 [metres] to go. I was too far back," said Cavendish of the sprint finish. "The whole day we rode so well until the last kilometres."

Cavendish chasing history

At the start in chilly and windy Antwerp, Mark Cavendish gained the most attention when lining up next to the MAS museum. With a fourth win in Schoten 204km away, the Manxman had the chance of becoming the sole record holder.

After rolling out of Antwerp, the peloton dealt with a headwind which blunted the initial average speed. Nine riders would form the early escape, comprised of Grégory Rast (RadioShack-Leopard), Matthew Brammeier and Mart Ojavee (Champion System Pro Cycling Team), Jacobus Venter (MTN-Qhubeka), Kenneth Van Bilsen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Stefano Borchi (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia), Arman Kamyshev (Astana), Christopher Juul Jensen (Saxo Bank) and Koen Barbe (Crelan-Euphony).

After 50km of racing, echelons were formed in the peloton due to the crosswinds and several riders were involved in crashes with Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack Leopard) and Bernard Eisel (Sky) being amongst the victims.

The front part of the peloton kept the pace high and eventually closed the gap to the nine leaders with approximately 85km remaining. The Omega Pharma-QuickStep team was well-represented by seven riders in this front group of approximately 40 riders. Eventually a second and third part of the peloton bridged back up to the front and the pace dropped back down.

Three riders took advantage of this momentary cease-fire to attack: Sven Vandousselaere (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Matthew Brammeier (Champion System) and Stefano Borchi (Vini Fantini), the latter two men also present in the early move of nine riders.

The trio pushed out a lead of more than three minutes on the peloton but when reaching the three local laps of 16.5 kilometres each, it was clear the peloton was in total control. Just before hitting the penultimate lap, everything was back together in front.

Team Argos-Shimano, Omega Pharma-QuickStep and Lotto Belisol were prominent at the front of the peloton when the final lap commenced. The Blanco team lost a valuable man with 14km to go when Graeme Brown flatted while Omega Pharma-QuickStep and Team Sky continued to set the pace.

Heading into the final kilometre Team Argos-Shimano and Lotto Belisol had dueling lead-out trains at the fore, but the organisation soon fractured creating a typically frantic finale in Schoten.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano4:41:00
2Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Barry Markus (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Alexander Kristoff (Nor) KatushaRow 4 - Cell 2
6Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-SharpRow 5 - Cell 2
7Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 6 - Cell 2
8Theo Bos (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 9 - Cell 2
11Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 11 - Cell 2
13Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 12 - Cell 2
14Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Ag2R La MondialeRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Team Saxo-TinkoffRow 14 - Cell 2
16Kurt Hovelijnck (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 15 - Cell 2
17Roy Jans (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 16 - Cell 2
18Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 17 - Cell 2
19Roman Maikin (Rus) RusVeloRow 18 - Cell 2
20Andreas Stauff (Ger) MTN-QhubekaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Alexander Serebryakov (Rus) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 21 - Cell 2
23Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Ricardo Garcia Ambroa (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jonathan Mcevoy (GBr) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 24 - Cell 2
26Youcef Reguigui (Alg) MTN-QhubekaRow 25 - Cell 2
27Kevin Claeys (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 26 - Cell 2
28Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJRow 27 - Cell 2
29Ioannis Tamouridis (Gre) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 28 - Cell 2
30Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 29 - Cell 2
31Michele Merlo (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 30 - Cell 2
32Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Team EuropcarRow 31 - Cell 2
33Clinton Robert Avery (NZl) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Steven Caethoven (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 33 - Cell 2
35Russell Downing (GBr) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 34 - Cell 2
36Peio Bilbao (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin-SharpRow 36 - Cell 2
38Jacobe Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40David Boucher (Fra) FDJRow 39 - Cell 2
41Roberto De Patre (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 40 - Cell 2
42Steve Chainel (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 41 - Cell 2
43Ralf Matzka (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 42 - Cell 2
44Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Igor Boev (Rus) RusVeloRow 44 - Cell 2
46Tim Mertens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 45 - Cell 2
47Eloy Teruel Rovira (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Iljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Sebastien Rosseler (Bel) Garmin-SharpRow 49 - Cell 2
51Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 50 - Cell 2
52Stijn Steels (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 51 - Cell 2
53Rudiger Selig (Ger) KatushaRow 52 - Cell 2
54Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Jesus Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Roger Kluge (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 55 - Cell 2
57Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJRow 56 - Cell 2
58Marco Haller (Aut) KatushaRow 57 - Cell 2
59Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 58 - Cell 2
60Kevin Peeters (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 59 - Cell 2
61Joeri Bueken (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 60 - Cell 2
62José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJRow 63 - Cell 2
65Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto BelisolRow 64 - Cell 2
66Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 65 - Cell 2
67Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 67 - Cell 2
69Morgan Lamoisson (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 68 - Cell 2
70Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 69 - Cell 2
71William Clarke (Aus) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 70 - Cell 2
72Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:08
73David Veilleux (Can) Team EuropcarRow 72 - Cell 2
74Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJRow 73 - Cell 2
75Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJRow 74 - Cell 2
76Steffen Radochla (Ger) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 75 - Cell 2
77Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 76 - Cell 2
78Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) RadioShack LeopardRow 77 - Cell 2
79Tom Veelers (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 78 - Cell 2
80Andreas Klier (Ger) Garmin-SharpRow 79 - Cell 2
81Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 82 - Cell 2
84Yves Lampaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 83 - Cell 2
85Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
86Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) RadioShack LeopardRow 85 - Cell 2
87Vladimir Gusev (Rus) KatushaRow 86 - Cell 2
88Martin Reimer (Ger) MTN-QhubekaRow 87 - Cell 2
89Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 88 - Cell 2
90Mark Renshaw (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
92Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:24
93William Bonnet (Fra) FDJRow 92 - Cell 2
94Markus Eichler (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 93 - Cell 2
95Rafael Andriato (Bra) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 94 - Cell 2
96Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
98Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 97 - Cell 2
99Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 98 - Cell 2
100Luigi Miletta (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 99 - Cell 2
101Maarten Neyens (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 100 - Cell 2
102Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 101 - Cell 2
103Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 102 - Cell 2
104Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 103 - Cell 2
105Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 104 - Cell 2
106Yohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 105 - Cell 2
107Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Procycling0:00:33
108Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:00:44
109Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:46
110Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 109 - Cell 2
111Hugo Houle (Can) Ag2R La MondialeRow 110 - Cell 2
112Grégory Rast (Swi) RadioShack LeopardRow 111 - Cell 2
113Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin-SharpRow 112 - Cell 2
114Jonas Aaen Jörgensen (Den) Team Saxo-TinkoffRow 113 - Cell 2
115Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin-SharpRow 114 - Cell 2
116Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
117Moreno Hofland (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
118Stijn Devolder (Bel) RadioShack LeopardRow 117 - Cell 2
119Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky ProcyclingRow 118 - Cell 2
120Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo-TinkoffRow 119 - Cell 2
121Gedimias Bagdonas (Ltu) Ag2R La MondialeRow 120 - Cell 2
122Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo-TinkoffRow 121 - Cell 2
123Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) KatushaRow 122 - Cell 2
124Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Sky ProcyclingRow 123 - Cell 2
125Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro TeamRow 124 - Cell 2
126Manuel Belletti (Ita) Ag2R La MondialeRow 125 - Cell 2
127Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
128Vladimir Isaichev (Rus) KatushaRow 127 - Cell 2
129Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 128 - Cell 2
130Hayden Roulston (NZl) RadioShack LeopardRow 129 - Cell 2
131Luca Paolini (Ita) KatushaRow 130 - Cell 2
132Erick Rowsell (GBr) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 131 - Cell 2
133Koen Barbe (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 132 - Cell 2
134Luke Rowe (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 133 - Cell 2
135Frederique Robert (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 134 - Cell 2
136Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 135 - Cell 2
137John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team0:01:06
138Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff0:01:30
139Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo-TinkoffRow 138 - Cell 2
140Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Ag2R La Mondiale0:01:31
141Mart Ojavee (Est) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 140 - Cell 2
142Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 141 - Cell 2
143Jéröme Gilbert (Bel) Accent Jobs-Wanty0:01:51
144Viktor Manakov (Rus) RusVelo0:01:55
145Ivan Savitskiy (Rus) RusVeloRow 144 - Cell 2
146Jacob Rathe (USA) Garmin-SharpRow 145 - Cell 2
147Fabian Schnaidt (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
148Alexander Rybakov (Rus) RusVeloRow 147 - Cell 2
149Adrian Saez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 148 - Cell 2
150Davide Appollonio (Ita) Ag2R La Mondiale0:01:57
151Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar TeamRow 150 - Cell 2
152Robert Thomas Wagner (Ger) Blanco Pro Cycling Team0:02:15
153Graeme Brown (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 152 - Cell 2
154Jos Van Emden (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 153 - Cell 2
155Stefano Borchi (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia0:02:28
156Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 155 - Cell 2
157Jacobus Venter (RSA) MTN-QhubekaRow 156 - Cell 2
158Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling TeamRow 157 - Cell 2
159Matt Brammeier (Irl) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 158 - Cell 2
160Kin San Wu (HKg) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 159 - Cell 2
161Sergey Klimov (Rus) RusVeloRow 160 - Cell 2
162Andrei Solomennikov (Rus) RusVeloRow 161 - Cell 2
163Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 162 - Cell 2
164Rick Flens (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 163 - Cell 2
165Damien Gaudin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 164 - Cell 2
166Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Team Saxo-TinkoffRow 165 - Cell 2
DNSMurilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJRow 166 - Cell 2
DNSStefan Van Dijk (Ned) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFAndrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFBorut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro TeamRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFDmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFAndré Schulze (Ger) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFGatis Smukulis (Lat) KatushaRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto BelisolRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFGiovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar TeamRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFFabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack LeopardRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFIan Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFJean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFTim De Troyer (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFJames Vanlandschoot (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFChan Jae Jang (Kor) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Roth (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Wesemann (RSA) MTN-QhubekaRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFBradley Potgieter (RSA) MTN-QhubekaRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFKristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN-QhubekaRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFJim Songezo (RSA) MTN-QhubekaRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFJerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Van Herck (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFValery Kaykov (Rus) RusVeloRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFSven Vandousselaere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFLucas Euser (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling TeamRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFAldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling TeamRow 192 - Cell 2

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