Caleb Ewan powers to sprint victory in Scheldeprijs 2020
The Australian pocket rocket takes his first win since the Tour de France


Caleb Ewan took the Scheldeprijs 2020 ahead of Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Niccolò Bonifazio (Total Direct Energie) in a very hectic finale that saw several riders crash, and eventually saw Ackermann disqualified for a dangerous sprint. That decision meant Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels - Vital Concept) took the third place position.
>>> Arnaud Démare unbeatable as he takes fourth victory on stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia 2020
Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) sprinted to a very convincing victory after a very calm day on the laps around the town of Schoten. The sprint was packed with big names though and a big crash brought down some fighting for the top placings after a sharp movement by Ackermann took the wheel of a rider just behind him out.
This is Ewan's first race win since his successes at the Tour de France. Behind him, other Tour riders didn't perform as well as they would've liked, with points jersey winner, Sam Bennett (Deceuninck - Quick-Step), coming down in ninth.
How it happened
The race was based around a 173.3km course that was made up of a 17km circuit in Schoten as local lockdowns meant the race was not able to do its usual course heading into the Netherlands.
The day's break was made up of Mark Cavendish (Bahrain-McLaren), Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ), Dmitriy Gruzdev (Astana), Michael Schär (CCC Team), Travis McCabe (Israel Start-Up Nation), Chris Juul-Jensen (Mitchelton-Scott), Tom Wirtgen (Bingoal-Wallonie Bruxelles), and Piotr Havik (Riwal-Securitas).
>>> Mark Cavendish says rumours of race cancellations caused the tears at Gent-Wevelgem
The route was very flat but it had the usual stressful course in Belgium with tight roads, road furniture, falling leaves and a very compact peloton with a packed field of potential winners.
The cameras largely fell on Cavendish as he was back on the bike despite his tearful interview where he said Ghent-Wevelgem may have been his last race.
But 'Cav' spent the day in the break but dropped back much earlier than the rest up front where he got plenty of congratulations from fans, motorbikes, and riders with him looking around asking for the camera to leave him alone.
Back in the peloton it was a group of teams working but UAE Team Emirates, Lotto-Soudal, Deceuninck - Quick-Step and Bora-Hansgrohe were doing most of the work for their main men.
The break was brought back with 19km to go apart from Havik who had kicked on, the Dutchman held on until 11km to go where Deceuninck - Quick-Step took full control of the race until 2km to go as Trek-Segafredo, Bora-Hansgrohe, Lotto-Soudal, and Alpecin-Fenix moved up to challenged the Belgian team.
Deceuninck - Quick-Step were then boxed out and it was Lotto-Soudal who lead the lead-out at the vital moment, allowing Ewan a clear sprint to the line, winning the race comfortably.
Ackermann was later disqualified for causing the crash moving Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept p/b KTM) up onto the podium.
Results
Scheldeprijs 2020: Schoten to Schoten (173.3km)
1. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto-Soudal, in 3-34-38
2. Niccolò Bonifazio (Ita) Total Direct Energie
3. Bryan Coquard (Fra) B&B Hotels-Vital Concept p/b KTM
4. Tim Merlier (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
5. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE Team Emirates
6. Amaury Capiot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
7. Arvid De Kleijn (Ned) Riwal Securitas
8. Sam Bennett (Irl) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
9. Itamar Einhorn (Isr) Israel Start-Up Nation
10. Romain Cardis (Fra) Total Direct Energie, all at same time
Amazon Prime Day deals: quick links
- Giro Empire SLX Road Cycling Shoes was $349.99 now $174.95 (opens in new tab)
- Garmin HRM heart rate monitor was $69.99 now $56.50 (opens in new tab)
- Garmin Edge 520 Plus was (opens in new tab)$279.99 now $230.34 (opens in new tab)
- Oakley Radar EV Advanced Rectangular sunglasses were $206, now $169.95 (opens in new tab)
- Garmin Edge Explore – was £219.99 now £129 (opens in new tab)
- Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 Lock with Flex Cable and Bracket – was £59.99 now £39.99 (opens in new tab)
- Apple iPad Air (10.5-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) – was £479 now £406.80 (opens in new tab)
- Nespresso Pod Coffee Machine – was £ 179.99 now £62.99 (opens in new tab)
- GORE Wear C3 Men’s Cycling Jacket – was £169.99 now from £81.99 (opens in new tab)
- Up to 30% off on SealSkinz gloves and socks – view all the deals here (opens in new tab)
- Up to 34% off Fitbit Versa 2, Inspire & Inspire HR – view the deals here (opens in new tab)
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.
-
-
Inside the first Global Bike Festival: Road, gravel and mountain biking come together in the Austrian Alps
Cycling Weekly was there to find out why hundreds of people travelled to Austria with their bikes for a weekend
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Should cyclists be worried about skin damage? All you need to know about protecting yourself from harmful rays
As high summer approaches, promising long hours of sun-drenched cycling, here’s what you need to know about the dangers posed by the sun and how to reduce the risk
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: It would be a 'real shame' if Mark Cavendish wasn't at the Tour de France
Cavendish's former teammate and Madison partner thinks it would be "crazy" not to pick him
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Lotto Soudal pins Tour de France hopes on 'one of the fastest riders of the peloton', Caleb Ewan
Caleb Ewan, Philippe Gilbert, Andreas Kron and Tim Wellens all make the team's Tour de France lineup
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
A look at Mark Cavendish's big day out on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider made the time cut, but did so much more
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Odd one out: Why was Mark Cavendish in the early break on Giro d'Italia queen stage?
It really is not a day for the fast men in the Alps
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'In the end, what can you do?' — Mark Cavendish misses out on Giro d'Italia stage five sprint
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter distanced by peloton on climb
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Hungarian village set to honour Mark Cavendish by naming bus stop after him
Cavendish changed his bike in front of the bus stop in question, which the village of Zámoly is planning to name after the rider
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish: I’ve never been the strongest or the fastest but I win
Cavendish praises team as he makes a winning return to the Giro d'Italia
By Richard Windsor • Published