Two laps and 33km to go!

The break has split as they are about to be caught. Behind the sprint teams are fighting for position. Every surge to move up is a big effort.

Unibet are ready to ride for Dylan Groenewegen. It wohld be a huge win for him and the innovative team.

The riders are back on the Broekstraat and Lidl-Trek are active on the front. Though it’s not clear if they are attacking or trying to line-out the peloton.

Whatever it is cutting into the lead of the break.

Now Soudal, Jayco and Lotto are lined out across the road in formation. The speed is up and rising.

Lidl-Trek are also positioning for the final, with Hector Alvarez jumping off the front to slot back into the position.

Jasper Philipsen suffered a rear wheel flat just before passing the finish area. He opted for a wheel change rather than a faster full bike change. He is quickly paced by Alpecin teammates.

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50km to go

The riders pass through the finish area in Schoten, the break leads the peloton by just 50 seconds now. The riders get to see how the finish gradually bends to the left.

The riders now ride alongside the huge Schelde river, speeding along faster the long canal boats that carry goods up and down the river.

Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello) drops his chain on the cobbles. He was third last year but now has to chase to rejoin the peloton.

The break hits the 1.7km long Broekstraat cobbled sector. This will crank-up the tension a bit more.

60km to go

The riders cover the first short sector of cobbles as they near Schoten. Alpecin have wisely moved to the front as the pace rises.

The break is just 1:10 ahead now.

Some breaking news: Isaac del Toro crashed hard at Itzulia Basque Country and has been forced to abandon the race.

Isaac del Toro abandons Itzulia Basque Country after crash early on stage 3

70km to go

Robin Carpenter (Modern Adventure), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto-Isorex), Joost Nat (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Dissel Bram (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Harteel Jelle (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Durić Dorde (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) are still working smoothly but they know the peloton is closing them down.

We can also see Alpecin riders lined-out together, riding for Jasper Philipsen.

75km to go

The peloton is rising with more gusto now, with the same single riders from Unibet, Soudal and Picnic doing turns on the front. The Tudor team are tucked in behind them.

The gap to the peloton is down to 2:00 and falling.

The average speed for the first hour of racing was 43km/h, indicating the controlled racing and the headwind in Zeeland. We expected the speed to rise more and more.

The crowds are already out in the finish area of Schoten after seeing the women’s race. They are now enjoying dome frites and a beer. The riders pass the finish line for the first time with 50km to go and cover three and half lap of the 17km circuit.

Scheldeprijs sits between the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. This special feature by Matilda Price and James Moultrie looks back to the Rnde and forward to the Hell of the North.

Everything the Tour of Flanders can tell us about Paris-Roubaix – The Monument quintuple, no Remco Evenepoel, and Lotte Kopecky’s chances

100km to go

The riders are gradually heading towards Antwerp and then Schoten but the pace is steady because there is a slight head wind.

We expect more action and then a crescendo finale on the three 17km loops of Schoten.

Robin Carpenter (Modern Adventure), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto-Isorex), Joost Nat (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Dissel Bram (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Harteel Jelle (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Durić Dorde (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) are still clear of the peloton.

Their lead is pegged at 2:20.

122km to go

The break and the peloton have passed into Belgium after the opening 70km or so in the Netherlands.

The women’s Scheldeprijs has just ended but we will not spoiler it for you. Check out our live coverage and then full report for all the details.

And the peloton lined out.

We can see who is chasing the break.

We have more great pics of the peloton at speed.

Jasper Philipsen has won Scheldeprijs twice and wants a third victory. However he revealed to Nieuwsblad that is struggling to get over a cold.

“I really want to win. Every race is important, so today is too. The Scheldeprijs is an absolute top race for a sprinter,” he said.

“Hopefully, we will see a nice mass sprint at the end. Dylan Groenewegen is in a winning flow. Tim Merlier is returning from injury, but given the weather conditions, I don’t expect a tough race. That will also work to his advantage.

“I’ve had a cold since Milan-San Remo and I’m having trouble getting rid of it. It’s not that it has much impact on how I feel on the bike.”

140km to go

The attackers have lost 10 seconds as the elastic stretches and then tightens as the peloton keeps them under control.

Merlier’s rivals expect him to be a threat.

“With Tim, we have to wait and see, but you can never write him off. I expect him today as well,” said Jordi Meeus.

“Merlier is returning from injury, but given the weather conditions, I don’t expect a tough race. That will work to his advantage,” Japser Philipsen told Sporza.

Tim Merlier no longer has knee pain but is still working on his form and sprinting speed. Yet he should not be ruled out in the sprint.

“I didn’t expect to still be participating in this race,” the 2024 and 2025 winner told Sporza at the start.

“I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t expect a result. I’m hoping for a podium finish, but if things go 110 percent right… why not?

“I’m starting with that ambition. I need to convey that to my teammates so they are willing to do the work 110 percent for me.”

Picnic PostNL are helping Unibet and Soudal with the chase, putting a rider on the front too. They are surely working for Pavel Bittner

Our live coverage from the Basque Country is also underway. It’s a great day of racing.

Itzulia Basque Country stage 3 LIVE: Paul Seixas defends yellow on punchy day in the Basque Country

Robin Carpenter (Modern Adventure), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto-Isorex), Joost Nat (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Dissel Bram (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Harteel Jelle (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Durić Dorde (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) have extended their lead to 2:40 as Soudal and Unibet lead the peloton.

The flat, straight roads of Zeeland.

It’s lined out in the peloton but not too fast, for now.

We have the first race shots from our photographers out on the road.

This was the first attack in the tunnel.

170km to go

The six attackers are working smoothly together off the front but the peloton is holding them at 2:30. We can experct a game of cat and mouse on the ride to Schoten.

According to our colleagues at Wielerflits, the Scheldeprijs riders were warned about riding through any level crossing during today’s race.

According to reports in Belgium, the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office has identified 54 riders who could face sanctions, including fines and driving bans after they dived through a level crossing early on in Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

This is our story on the matter.

Investigation identifies 54 riders as skipping level crossing red signal at Tour of Flanders

185km to go

The riders are on the exposed Zeeland roads but instead of cross winds blowing from the North Sea, the weather is warm, sunny and with only a slight breeze. It’s a lovely day for a bike ride and a bike race.

Soudal and Unibet are leading the peloton but they are happy to let thew break go clear and gain a few minutes, but they will ride to keep them under control.

The gap is already 2:30.

In the dark of the tunnel, three other riders have jonied the attack to create a move of six riders. Also off the front are Dissel Bram (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Harteel Jelle (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Durić Dorde (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali).

They have a gap of 30 seconds.

The race has dived into the Westerscheldetunnel that passes under the sea and takes the race to the Zeeland area of the Netherlands.

It is cycling’s equivalent of the dark side of the Moon.

The trio have a gap but the peloton is chasing them. Race on!

“All the best guys for this race today.”

We imediately have the first attack: Americans Robin Carpenter and Jonah Killy, plus Dutchman Joost Nat make the first move.

Official start

They’re off!

A minute’s silence was held in Terneuzen in memory of Piet De Smet, the former chairman of the Scheldeprijs organisers, who passed away last week.

“I feel a bit at home, especially later at the finish in Schoten,” Kittel told Sporza.

“I have wonderful memories. It was also the end of my career, because I unknowingly rode my last race as a pro here. It is great to return with the Rockets.”

“The last circuit in Schoten is always hectic. There is little room to move forward. You have to choose your moments as a team, you have to do it together.”

Kittel will be in the Unibet team car today.

“I still feel involved in these races as a rider. It is an intense experience, and as an athlete, I found that the most beautiful thing of all. I hope we can experience those emotions again today.”

Marcel Kittel is known as “Mister Scheldeprijs” after winning the race five times. Now he is the sprint coach sat Unibet, helping Groenewegen and his lead out.

“I feel a bit at home,” he said before the start. His tactical message to his riders: “Stay calm and then do your thing.”

Dylan Groenwegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), has won four sprints already in 2026 and is hoping for to add a cherry to his cake of spring success.

“The Spring season has already been a success, so in that respect it doesn’t matter much. Of course, it would be a nice cherry on top of the cake,” he told HLN at the sign-on podium.

“Anything is possible, but the weather is very nice today. The wind won’t really cause any crazy things today, but of course you never know what other teams want. So always stay alert!”

The riders will roll out of Terneuzen when the church bell strikes 1pm local time. They then face a 4km neutralised sector before the race starts.

It’s another busy day of racing but as always, Cyclingnews has you covered. Today is stage 3 of the Itzulia Basque Country as Paul Seixas continues to dominate.

The women’s Scheldeprijs is already underway and you can follow all the action via our live updates. Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) won the 2025 Scheldeprijs Women race.

Scheldeprijs Women LIVE: Can anyone prevent a bunch sprint, or will the fast women take the honours again?

Tim Merlier has only ridden one race due to his injuries, finishing 19th in the Grote prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré on March 19. He has trained since then but is still working to find his best form.

“My shape is getting better and better, so I look forward to being there. I would love to be in the mix for a good result, but I know it won’t be easy, because others are in better form,” he said via his Soudal team recently.

“Nevertheless, I will give my best, like I always do, and we’ll see what I’ll achieve at the end of the day.”

Other sprinters we will be watching for include Jordi Meeus (Red Bull), Britain’s Robert Donaldson (Jayco-Alula), Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet), Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello-Q36.5), Hugo Hofstetter (NSN) and Tim Torn Teutenberg (lidl-Trek).

Tim Merlier wears race number 1 as the previous winner. However due to his injuries in the early and pre-season, he is not the favourite to win the sprint. That title perhaps goes to Jasper Philipsen, the rider Merlier beat in 2025.

The riders are currently signing on in the sun in Terneuzen.

The 2025 Scheldeprijs was a classic edition, with an early break, a fast chase, attacks and then the thrilling sprint finish.

Look back over the 2025 via our race report.

Scheldeprijs: Tim Merlier beats Jasper Philipsen by a bike length in crash-marred final to win second year in a row

The riders cover the circuit three times before the expected high-speed, high-stakes sprint finish.

With 140 kilometres of flat racing to go, the riders reach the Belgian border in Essen, near Antwerp. Then heads south to Schoten to begin the 16.9km finishing circuit.

As the map shows, the race starts in the Dutch town of Terneuzen, close to the Belgian border. The riders pass through the Westerscheldetunnel and then cover some exposed roads in the Netherlands before riding east.

This is the map of the race.

It’s only April 8 but spring has sprung in nothern Europe, with temperatures of 18C and little forecast for the day.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Scheldeprijs men’s race. This is the sprinters’ Classics but should be another day of great racing.