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Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) made it two in a row within the Scheldeprijs, out-sprinting a poorly positioned Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceunick) in a bunch dash to win the 2024 version.
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) had Philipsen on his wheel and will solely watch because the Milan-San Remo winner got here previous to grab the runner-up spot and needed to accept third.
The victory was Merlier’s seventh of the season and the second of the Classics season, saving Soudal-Quickstep’s marketing campaign.
Merlier needed to battle his approach again into the peloton after a puncture with 10km to go and was out of place till his teammate got here again to drag him to the entrance.
“We have been fairly far [back] a bit and I used to be alone for a bit then it was Bert coming and he is aware of what to do and introduced me to a great place. When I felt the second was there I began my dash and it was sufficient to carry it.”
How it unfolded
After a moist morning, the rain stopped for the 112th Scheldeprijs and assaults went from the flag drop as ordinary. After 5 kilometres, 5 riders had cast a small lead however their day out entrance was quick.
Liam Slock (Lotto Dstny), Tord Gudmestad (Uno-X Mobility), Mirko Bozzolo (Q36.5), Bram Dissel (BEAT) and Peder Dahl Strand (Tarteletto-Isorex) have been hovering at 20 seconds forward of the peloton when a crash took down one of many pre-race favourites, Gerben Thijssen (Intermarche-Wanty) and his teammate Arne Marit.
In the mayhem of the crash and an upcoming part of crosswinds, the peloton cut up as groups have been eager to make the most of the wind situations. The breakaway principally got here again with 160km to go however Slock made it into one other transfer with Baptiste Planckaert (Intermarche-Wanty), Vincent Van Hemelen (Flanders-Baloise), Axel Huens (TDT-Unibet) and Stijn Appel (Beat).
The crosswinds fizzled however not earlier than Bora-Hansgrohe sprinter Sam Welsford discovered himself on the flawed finish of a cut up and needed to burn matches to get again to the entrance group.
When the wind died down, the peloton got here again collectively and, midway by way of the race, the leaders had a spot of three:25.
The leaders had simply over a minute on the primary journey over the cobbles of Broekstraat with 50km to go and the hole continued to fall. With two laps to go it was underneath a minute and Huens determined he might go on no additional and sat up. Soon, Van Hemelen and Appel joined him in going again to the peloton, leaving Planckaert and Slock proceed alone.
With one lap to go, the pair loved a little bit of sunshine however the outlook for his or her transfer was not as brilliant because the bunch have been 20 seconds behind and, with 15km to go, Planckaert misplaced contact leaving Slock to go it alone.
His benefit stretched to 30 seconds as Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) needed to cease for a puncture. That meant his crew needed to lose place with 10km to go to convey him again into competition.
On the ultimate journey over the cobbles, the hole to the peloton fell quick sufficient that Slock sat up, leaving the peloton all along with Astana, Bora-Hansgrohe and Jayco-AlUla to battle on the entrance for place.
UAE Team Emirates, Uno-X and Tudor got here ahead within the closing 5km with Alpecin and Quickstep taking a again seat. A surge from Lidl-Trek opened a door and Alpecin-Deceuninck lastly made their technique to the entrance, however they have been with out Philipsen.
After extra wanting round, the Alpecin prepare lastly got here to the entrance with 1.7km to go along with Philipsen in tow.
Merlier opened up the dash first as Phlilipsen needed to battle his approach by way of site visitors and couldn’t get previous the flying Belgian.
Results
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