CYCLING – Team Bahrain Victorious are set to compete today in the Scheldeprijs elite men’s road race in Belgium.
The one-day event is taking place in between the two spring classic Monuments, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and it offers an opportunity for the sprinters to come to the fore.
A Monument is one of five classic races generally considered to be the oldest, hardest, longest, and most prestigious one-day events in men’s road cycling.
Dating back to 1907, Scheldeprijs 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-kilometre 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 featuring three laps of 17km each includes a cobbled sector, tackled for the last time with 6.5km 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,” said Bauhaus.
“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 (Erzen) as co-leader, we have another strong option, and we’ll try to make it a good day for the team.”
Erzen 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 Monsere, where he sprinted to sixth place, as well as a solid 13th place at Ronde van Brugge.
“I’m super happy to do Scheldeprijs,” said Erzen.
“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.”
Erzen will make his debut at Scheldeprijs alongside Matevz Govekar, Daniel Skerl, and Vlad Van Mechelen, who returns to racing after a broken collarbone.
Leonardo Consolidani will also join the lineup, stepping up from Bahrain Victorious Development Team for his first appearance with the UCI World Tour squad.
“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,” said Bahrain Victorious sports director Nikolas Maes.
“However, an easy start often means a very intense finale.”
“We will start with six riders, and while our line-up isn’t fully dedicated to a lead-out, we have Matevz taking responsibility for positioning our sprint options Phil and Zak.”
“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 10.”
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