Jasper Philipsen won the Grand Prix de l’Escaut. Well supported by Mathieu van der Poel, who dictated the tempo in the final packing, the Belgian sprinter finished strong in the suburbs of Antwerp and confirmed his status as a must in flat sprints.
Stuck between the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, the Scheldt GP was, as usual, made for fast riders. Jasper Philipsen, Caleb Ewan, Fabio Jakobsen, Mark Cavendish and defending champion Alexander Kristoff were on hand for this “little world sprinters’ championship”.
The Soudal Quick Step and Alpecin-Fenix teams led the peloton over the last fifteen kilometers, with a very spirited Mathieu van der Poel at the front. The Dutchman did an outstanding job of getting Philipsen into an armchair. The winner on the Champs-Elysées was quick to complete the job. Yet locked in the last few hundred meters, he was able to clear a passage to cut the finish line ahead of Sam Welsford (DSM) and Mark Cavendish (Astana). It is his second victory in this race following 2021. Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché Circus-Wanty) and Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) finish 5 and 6th.
