Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) before the start of Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 2 of 35
Saxo Bank-SunGard lead the peloton in the streets of Antwerp. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 3 of 35
Manuel Quinziato (BMC) is looking to maintain his form for Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 4 of 35
Alexander Kristoff is part of a strong BMC team. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 5 of 35
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) is a potential winner. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 6 of 35
Belgian champion Stijn Devolder (Vacansoleil-DCM) in Antwerp. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 7 of 35
Omega Pharma-Lotto ride to the start in Antwerp. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 8 of 35
Ben King and RadioShack go to the start. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 9 of 35
Stuart O'Grady (Leopard Trek) has been Fabian Cancellara's strongest lieutenant in 2011. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 10 of 35
Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) would like a win close to his Belgian home. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 11 of 35
Mark Cavendish and HTC-Highroad rider to sign on. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 12 of 35
Bernhard Eisel (HTC-Highroad) will be a key rider on the road to Schoten. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 13 of 35
Garmin-Cervelo are desperate for a big win this spring. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 14 of 35
Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) is the defending champion. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 15 of 35
Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) rides to the start. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 16 of 35
Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) is using Scheldeprijs to keep things ticking over between Flanders and Roubaix. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 17 of 35
George Hincapie (BMC) ahead of Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 18 of 35
Allan Peiper congratulates George Hincapie (BMC) on his showing in Sunday's Tour of Flanders. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 19 of 35
Danilo Napolitano (Acqua & Sapone) lines up for Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 20 of 35
Danilo Napolitano (Acqua & Sapone) shares a joke before the start. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 21 of 35
Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ) will be in the mix today. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 22 of 35
FDJ ride to sign on. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 23 of 35
Thor Hushovd's distinctive bike. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 24 of 35
Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) is recovered from his Gent-Wevelgem crash. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 25 of 35
Fans can mingle with the riders ahead of Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 26 of 35
Rafa Chtioui (Acqua & Sapone) is looking to deliver on his considerable potential. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 27 of 35
Romain Matheou (Saur-Sojasun) makes a last-minute adjustment. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 28 of 35
Waiting for Boonen: the Quick Step bus is always thronged at races in Belgium. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 29 of 35
Kenny Van Hummel (Skil-Shimano) will be hoping it all comes down to a sprint. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 30 of 35
Frederic Guesdon (FDJ) fine-tunes his Paris-Roubaix preparation at Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 31 of 35
Steve Chainel (FDJ) is testing his Paris-Roubaix equipment at Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 32 of 35
Lloyd Mondory at Gent-Wevelgem apart, Ag2r-La Mondiale have had a low-key Belgian campaign. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 33 of 35
Bjorn Leukemans fans at the start in Antwerp. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 34 of 35
Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) could be to the fore in Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Image 35 of 35
Leigh Howard (HTC-Highroad) will be riding for Mark Cavendish. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Clear blue skies and pleasant sunshine greeted the peloton as it gathered in Antwerp for the start of Scheldeprijs. With no hills on the course and little wind to disturb the riders as they headed east towards the Dutch border, the odds were on a bunch sprint back in Schoten this afternoon.
As expected, there was no shortage of fast men on the start line. Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) was in typically determined mood as he rode to sign on, but the Manxman will face stiff opposition as he bids to take his second win of the season. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) is the defending champion, and he will be marshalled by Thor Hushovd and Heinrich Haussler in the finale.
Other sprinters who should be in the mix include the experienced Robbie McEwen (RadioShack), Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank-SunGard), Theo Bos (Rabobank) and the promising Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha), who was an impressive stage winner in De Panne last week.
Edvald Boasson Hagen heads up a strong Sky line-up that can also rely on Chris Sutton and Juan Antonio Flecha for firepower. Tom Boonen is one of four potential sprint winners in the Quick Step roster, and he may well be on the hunt for a morale-boosting win after his 4th place finish in the Tour of Flanders.
For some riders, however, Scheldeprijs is primarily about keeping their form ticking over ahead of Paris-Roubaix, and to that end Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) was also at the start in Antwerp. The Swiss rider is in confident mood ahead of the weekend, and he will enjoy his final tune-up on the flat 200km course to Schoten.
Cyclingnews Newsletter
Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy
Thank you for signing up to Cycling News. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
