:focal(4123x2757:4133x2747):watermark(cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ipmgroup/6LJWAO74QZHR7KW5AX2LGSOHQQ.png,0,-0,0,100)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ipmgroup/5AWORQJRMNGLHOA52ATTHTQURU.jpg)
Scheldt GP: Philipsen wins sprint (Video)
GP Escaut has not escaped his tradition of sprinters racing. The 111th edition was crowned by Belgian runner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceunick), already winner in 2021, on Wednesday in Schoten. Seven riders created the day’s breakaway and had a three-minute lead after 70 kilometers of racing. We found the Belgians Cyril Desalle (Bingwall-WB) and Robin Abers (Flanders-Baloise), the New Zealander Josh Kinch (Bolton Equitiers), the Italians Giulio Masuto (Koratec) and Filippo Ridolfo (Novo Nordisk), the Dutchman Bram Dessel and Vincent Hobezak (Pete).
The escapees’ advantage gradually faded to finally finish over the other four survivors, Desal, Ridolfo, Apers and Desel, after 190 kilometers of breakaway, 3.5 kilometers from the finish. Then the peloton led by Mathieu van der Poel and his Alpecin Dekonink team, as well as the sprinters’ formations, dominated the race.
This inevitable combination allowed Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to win for the fourth time this season, and the second at the Scheldt GP after his success in 2021. The Belgian beat Australian Sam Welsford (DSM) and Briton Mark Cavendish (Astana-Kazakhstan). Gerben Thijssen (Inmarché-Circus-Wanty) and Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) finished fifth and sixth, behind Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen (Jaico-Ula).
He succeeded Norwegian Jasper Philipsen, Alexander Kristoff, who won in 2022, ahead of Dutchman Danny Van Poppel and Australian Sam Wilsford.
When you target Matthew van der Poel’s pigeon (Video)
“Proud explorer. Freelance social media expert. Problem solver. Gamer. Extreme travel aficionado.”