Grote Scheldeprijs

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The Grote Scheldeprijs is a Belgian semi classic cycling race which starts in the city of Antwerp and finishes in the town of Schoten. The event, which is ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is traditionally seen as a race for the sprinters, being held on flat roads over a distance of roughly 200 kilometres. The race consists of one big circuit of 155 kilometres which goes into the countryside of Antwerp province followed by three finishing circuits of 15 kilometres based on the finishing town of Schoten, the route includes seven tough cobbled sections varying in length between 1300 metres and 3000 metres. The race takes place in mid April on the Wednesday following the cobble classic Paris-Roubaix. It has formerly been known as the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen and by its French name of the Grand Prix de l'Escaut.

The race has a neuteralised start on the banks of the River Schelde in the centre of Antwerp at the Grote Markt outside the City Hall, however, racing does not begin until the town of Schoten is reached a few kilometres to the north east and the official starting signal is given. The finish of the race is outside Schoten town hall.

The first Scheldeprijs was organised by the Antwerp branch of the Belgium Cycling Society (BWB) on July 8 1907 making it the oldest cycle race in Flanders. The early years of the race saw it starting and finishing in Antwerp, with the conclusion of the event taking place at the now demolished Zurenborg velodrome. Later on the start of the race was moved to Merksem and then to Deurne, which are both satellite towns of Antwerp, however in 1996 the race start was moved back to the centre of Antwerp. That first edition of the race in 1907 was won by the Frenchman Maurice Leturgie, however it would be another 46 years before another non Belgian (Dutchman Hans Dekkers in 1953) triumphed in the race as home riders dominated the event. Since 1978 the nationality of the race winner has become more diversified.

2005 saw the 93rd edition of the race since 1907 and only the first and second World Wars have interrupted the event. The Scheldeprijs will celebrate it’s 100th anniversary in 2007 and the race organisers are already planning special events to celebrate. Some of the great names of cycling have triumphed in the race over it’s long history, Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy, Mario Cipollini, Freddy Maertens, Roger De Vlaeminck, Erik Zabel, Briek Schotte, Stan Ockers and Georges Ronsse have all been successful, however, Belgian Piet Oellibrandt, holds the record for the most wins in the race, taking three victories in the early 1960s. Belgian cycling legend Johan Museeuw, who never actually won the Scheldeprijs but finished second twice in 1992 and 1997 chose the 2004 event as the final race in an illustrious career, saying, “I could have retired after Paris-Roubaix but I felt it important that my last race should be in Belgium, the Scheldeprijs is a great race and I love especially the start in Antwerp market place.”

[edit] Grote Scheldeprijs Winners

• 2006 Tom Boonen (Belgium)
• 2005 Thorwald Veneberg (Netherlands)
• 2004 Tom Boonen (Belgium)
• 2003 Ludovic Capelle (Belgium)
• 2002 Robbie McEwen (Australia)
• 2001 Endrio Leoni (Italy)
• 2000 Endrio Leoni (Italy)
• 1999 Jeroen Blijlevens (Netherlands)
• 1998 Servais Knaven (Netherlands)
• 1997 Erik Zabel (Germany)
• 1996 Frank Vandenbroucke (Belgium)
• 1995 Rossano Brassi (Itay)
• 1994 Peter Van Petegem (Belgium)
• 1993 Mario Cipollini (Italy)
• 1992 Wilfried Nelissen (Belgium)
• 1991 Mario Cipollini (Italy)
• 1990 John Talen (Netherlands)
• 1989 Jean-Marie Wampers (Belgium)
• 1988 Jean-Paul Van Poppel (Netherlands)
• 1987 Etienne De Wilde (Belgium)
• 1986 Jean-Paul Van Poppel (Netherlands)
• 1985 Adri Van der Poel (Netherlands)
• 1984 Ludo Peeters (Belgium)
• 1983 Jan Bogaert (Belgium)
• 1982 Ludo Schurgers (Belgium)
• 1981 Ad Wijnands (Netherlands)
• 1980 Ludo Peeters (Belgium)
• 1979 Daniel Willems (Belgium)
• 1978 Dietrich Thurau (Germany)
• 1977 Marc Demeyer (Belgium)
• 1976 Frans Verbeeck (Belgium)
• 1975 Ronald Dewitte (Belgium)
• 1974 Marc Demeyer (Belgium)
• 1973 Freddy Maertens (Belgium)
• 1972 Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
• 1971 Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck (Belgium)
• 1970 Roger De Vlaeminck (Belgium)
• 1969 Walter Godefroot (Belgium)
• 1968 Edward Sels (Belgium)
• 1967 Paul In 'T'Ven (Belgium)
• 1966 Joseph Spruyt (Belgium)
• 1965 Willy Vannitsen (Belgium)
• 1964 Joseph Hoevenaers (Belgium)
• 1963 Piet Oellibrandt (Belgium)
• 1962 Piet Oellibrandt (Belgium)
• 1961 Raymond Vrancken (Belgium)
• 1960 Piet Oellibrandt (Belgium)
• 1959 Willy Butzen (Belgium)
• 1958 Raymond Vrancken (Belgium)
• 1957 Rik Van Looy (Belgium)
• 1956 Rik Van Looy (Belgium)
• 1955 Alberic Schotte (Belgium)
• 1954 Roger Decock (Belgium)
• 1953 Hans Dekkers (Netherlands)
• 1952 Roger Decorte (Belgium)
• 1951 Ernest Sterckx (Belgium)
• 1950 André Pieters (Belgium)
• 1949 Roger Decorte (Belgium)
• 1948 Achiel Buysse (Belgium)
• 1947 René Mertens (Belgium)
• 1946 Stan Ockers (Belgium)
• 1944 Frans Knaepkens (Belgium)
• 1943 Eloi Meulenberg (Belgium)
• 1942 Lode Busschops (Belgium)
• 1941 Stan Ockers (Belgium)
• 1939 Achiel Buysse (Belgium)
• 1938 Antoine Dignef (Belgium)
• 1937 Sylvain Grysolle (Belgium)
• 1936 Marcel Van Schil (Belgium)
• 1935 Gerard Loncke (Belgium)
• 1934 Léon Tommies (Belgium)
• 1933 Flander Horemans (Belgium)
• 1932 Godefried De Vocht (Belgium)
• 1931 Godefried De Vocht (Belgium)
• 1930 Denis Verschueren (Belgium)
• 1929 Joseph Wauters (Belgium)
• 1928 Joseph Dervaes (Belgium)
• 1927 Georges Ronsse (Belgium)
• 1926 Joseph Dervaes (Belgium)
• 1925 Karel Van Hassel (Belgium)
• 1924 René Vermandel (Belgium)
• 1923 Emile Thollembbek (Belgium)
• 1922 Florence Van den Bergh (Belgium)
• 1921 René Vermandel (Belgium)
• 1920 Victor Lenaers (Belgium)
• 1919 Isidore Merchant (Belgium)
• 1914 Jacques Octave (Belgium)
• 1913 Joseph Van Wetter (Belgium)
• 1912 Joseph Van Wetter (Belgium)
• 1911 Florent Luyckx (Belgium)
• 1910 Florent Luyckx (Belgium)
• 1909 Raymond Van Parijs (Belgium)
• 1908 Adrien Kranskens (Belgium)
• 1907 Maurice Leturgie (France)