The Scheldeprijs is the fifth installment of the Flanders Classics and is a unique race amongst the otherwise cobbled and hilly classics the Flanders region is known for. Scheldeprijs is by far the flattest course, all but guaranteeing a sprint finish. The high-speed course takes riders along the Scheldt River, exposing the peloton to a barrage of crosswind before turning into Schoten for three laps of a finishing circuit.

Marcel Kittel holds the most wins at five. In 2021, Alpecin-Fenix’s Jasper Philipsen won but is not currently on the 2022 starlist. Read on for FloBikes' picks for the top favorites and underdogs in the 110th running of the Scheldeprijs.

Top Two Favorites

Fabio Jakobsen

Fabio Jakobsen opened his 2022 season with multiple wins, but seems to have faded slightly since his stage victory in Paris-Nice. He expressed disappointed with his performance at Gent-Wevelgem, and his Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team has similarly faltered in the spring classics. 

Scheldeprijs is a big opportunity for Quick-Step to get their spring campaign back on track. Jakobsen is one of the fastest finishers in the peloton, and his team boasts one of the most experienced leadout trains in the business. Look for a very motivated Jakobsen this Wednesday.

Dylan Groenewegen

Although ninth place is the best finish that Dylan Groenewegen secured at Scheldeprijs the Dutch sprinter should be primed for a top placing this year.

Groenewegen has found a new home at Team BikeExchange-Jayco in 2022. This newfound stability comes after a tumultuous period of his career, following his Tour of Pologne crash with Fabio Jakobsen and the subsequent sanction he received. 

Groenewegen opened his season with two wins in the Saudi Tour. A win at Scheldeprijs will mark a successful new chapter in his career. 

Top Two Underdogs

Alexander Kristoff 

The 2015 winner of Scheldeprijs, Alexander Kristoff took third place in the sprinter-favored 2022 Milano–Torino. Kristoff has admitted that his fastest days are behind him, but that doesn’t mean he should be counted out of a win in a sprint finish.  

Danny Van Poppel

Danny Van Poppel had a strong Classics campaign in 2021, taking fourth in last year's Scheldeprijs. Van Poppel has never secured a major victory in the classics, but he is consistently there or thereabouts. Coming off a 16th place finish at the Tour of Flanders, Van Poppel appears fit and capable.. 

Teammate Sam Bennett will not be in attendance, leaving the full might of Bora-Hansgrohe at Van Poppel's disposal.