Philipsen Denies Merlier Hat-Trick With Scheldeprijs Sprint Victory
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) powered to victory at the 2026 Scheldeprijs, producing a perfectly timed sprint to deny Tim Merlier a third consecutive title in Belgium's premier sprint Classic. Dylan Groenewegen finished second with Jordi Meeus completing the podium in Schoten after 205 kilometres of pan-flat racing from Antwerp.
The result caps an outstanding Classics campaign for Philipsen, who added the Scheldeprijs to his In Flanders Fields victory from late March. The Belgian sprinter, who had finished second behind Merlier at this race in 2025, timed his effort to perfection, launching from behind Groenewegen's wheel in the final 150 metres and surging clear with a devastating turn of speed that left the rest of the field trailing.
For Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step), the race ended in disappointment. The two-time defending champion had been the pre-race favourite and was perfectly positioned entering the final kilometre, but found himself boxed in during the closing metres and could only manage fifth. His bid for a record-equalling hat-trick falls short, though the Belgian remains one of the most feared sprinters in the peloton heading into the rest of the season.
Groenewegen's second place was an encouraging result for the Dutchman, who opened his sprint early but could not hold off Philipsen's late surge. Meeus, riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, confirmed his impressive spring form with a strong third-place finish after being well positioned by his lead-out train throughout the largely uneventful flat run into Schoten.
The Scheldeprijs maintained its reputation as the sprinters' Classic, with the peloton arriving in Schoten in a large group after 205 kilometres of controlled racing across the Belgian flatlands. A series of crosswind attempts in the opening half of the race came to nothing, and by the time the race entered the final 30 kilometres it was clear that only a bunch sprint would decide the outcome.
Attention now turns to Paris-Roubaix this Sunday, where the cobblestones of northern France will provide an entirely different challenge. Philipsen, buoyed by his Scheldeprijs triumph, will hope that his Alpecin-Deceuninck squad can support Mathieu van der Poel in his bid for a record-equalling fourth Hell of the North title.
Scheldeprijs 2026 — Top 5:
1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
2. Dylan Groenewegen
3. Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
4. Arnaud De Lie
5. Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step)