In between the two spring classic Monuments, the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix, Scheldeprijs (1.Pro) offers an opportunity for the sprinters to come to the fore. The race takes place on Wednesday, April 8.

Dating back to 1907, it is the oldest Flemish spring classic, with this year marking 100 years of the race finishing in Schoten. The start location is also familiar, as for the eighth time in history the race will begin in Terneuzen, in the Netherlands.

Key features of the 205.2 km course include its pan-flat profile and the wind-exposed Zeeland area, where echelons can often split the peloton. However, this year wind is not expected to play a major role, making a bunch sprint the most likely outcome. The final local circuit (three laps of 17 km each) features a cobbled sector — Broekstraat (1.7 km) — tackled for the last time with 6.5 km to go.

Bahrain Victorious will line up with Phil Bauhaus as its main sprint option, returning to racing after the Ronde van Brugge, where he was forced to abandon due to illness:

“I did this race around 10 years ago, three times, and it’s one that really suits sprinters. There’s a reason it used to be called the ‘sprinters’ World Championships.’ I was a bit sick at Ronde van Brugge, but I’ve recovered well and I’m looking forward to racing again. We have a young and promising team, especially the younger guys, who have shown a really good level in recent races. I think we can be competitive, and we’ll aim for the best possible result in the sprint. With Zak as co-leader, we have another strong option, and we’ll try to make it a good day for the team.”

Žak Eržen comes into the race after a solid Belgian campaign, starting with the Ename Samyn Classic and continuing with strong performances at GP Denain — won by teammate Alec Segaert — and GP Monseré, where he sprinted to sixth place, as well as a solid 13th place at Ronde van Brugge:

“I’m super happy to do Scheldeprijs. I think it’s a nice opportunity for me as a fast rider, so I’m really looking forward to it, also as preparation ahead of Paris–Roubaix. It’s always special to race in Belgium, especially when you’re in good shape, and it’s another opportunity for a strong result.”

Eržen will make his debut at Scheldeprijs alongside Matevž Govekar, Daniel Skerl and Vlad Van Mechelen, who returns to racing after a broken collarbone sustained during Opening Weekend. Leonardo Consolidani will also join the lineup, stepping up from the Development Team for his first appearance with the WorldTour squad.

Bahrain Victorious Sports Director Nikolas Maes previewed the race:

“It’s a race where a bunch sprint is the most likely outcome, as the parcours is quite simple: no wind, wide roads and no obstacles. However, an easy start often means a very intense finale.

We will start with six riders, and while our lineup isn’t fully dedicated to a lead-out, we have Matevž Govekar taking responsibility for positioning our sprint options, Phil Bauhaus and Zak Eržen. Getting into position for the sprint requires surgical precision. In the final straight, we’ll take our chances in a fast and straightforward sprint, aiming for a result between the top five and top ten.”