109th/1st Scheldeprijs (aka El Crashico), Wednesday, April 7th, 2021

[Samu Cuenca]

Alright, everyone. We have all agreed that BlueRoads will, in fact not kidnap me, so let's get back on topic.

Yes, you guys can go create "The Kidnapping Threat Thread" and continue the discussion inthere.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But I will take her to the Basque country where it's green and nice.

If you're taking her there to avoid bad weather, I have bad news for you about how Euskal Herria got to be so green and nice.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Lets get this thread back on track.
Taken from the race website:

It was already noticeable the past few days, April is being whimsical again. On Wednesday, the roads between Terneuzen and Schoten will also fall prey to the fickle weather.

The riders can prepare for a mile-long battle with the wind, as a maximum wind force of 6 Beaufort is predicted in Zeeland, with gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour. The wind will come from the northwest, diagonally in the back. The sprinters can therefore expect echelons. The first 70 kilometres from Terneuzen are therefore very important.

On the local rounds in Schoten, the riders will have to warm up well because with temperatures between freezing point and six degrees, it will be very cold and there is even a chance of snow.

Will DQS drill it from the start or are they too afraid of making Sam Bennett puke again?


We also have the startlists. The one for the women's race comes with a nice guide to help you tell all the blue, purple and red jerseys apart:

https://www.flandersclassics.be/sites/default/files/scheldeprijs_me_1.pro_liste_des_partants.pdf

https://www.flandersclassics.be/sites/default/files/pdf/deelnemerslijst_we_2021.pdf

 

[Orbit501]

Kristoff ftw.

 

[Bonimenier]

Pretty remarkable line-up by DQS. They could pretty much have 2 trains in the final with Sénéchal-Morkov-Bennett as option A and Van Lerberghe-Archibold-Cavendish as option B.

 

[Sciatic]

No one will want to ride near Bennett lest he puke into a 70 Km/hr wind gust!

 

[Eyeballs Out]

That weather forecast looks brutal. They'd never get off the bus if it was a stage in a stage race

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

This... this... does not sound like bunch sprint weather.

 

[Wvv]

Haha El Crashico. Harsh and sad, but also funny.

Really curious how this race will play out in such weather conditions. Could be a very locked up day with a slippery sprint, or a hard men's battle.

 

[Sciatic]

Might prompt to watch a bit of it this year.

 

[Breezy1985]

If you're taking her there to avoid bad weather, I have bad news for you about how Euskal Herria got to be so green and nice.

I come from a very very green area too. Sadly

 

[Breezy1985]

Pretty remarkable line-up by DQS. They could pretty much have 2 trains in the final with Sénéchal-Morkov-Bennett as option A and Van Lerberghe-Archibold-Cavendish as option B.

Cavendish won't be in the final sprint

 

[Wvv]

No FDJ and thus no Démare due to a positive Covid-test in the crew.

 

[Red Rick]

I don'tknow about you guys but I look forward to the Scheldeprijs race thread every year

 

[Eyeballs Out]

The weather forecast looks a bit better today. Less chance of rain this afternoon. Still cold, and the wind should split the race up before they reach the circuit

 

[will-10]

Obviously it's been a very different last 12 months or so, but if we have an interesting Scheldeprijs with the weather then we will know for sure we have slipped into an alternative dimension.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A group of around 16 riders including Norsgaard, Balsamo, Wiebes, Georgi, Dideriksen, Klein, Alice Barnes, Alba Teruel, Brennauer and my newest favourite, Sara Martín Martín, has a gap of 25-30 seconds with 100 km. left.

Both Chloe Hosking from Trek and the full Alé BTC Ljubljana squad with Bastianelli are out of the race due to Covid positives.

Also a bit of confusement on twitter, because #SP21 is also used for the upcoming Scottish election.


Edit: Norsgaard had a mechanical, Movistar stopped working in the break and things came back together.

 

[kingjr]

Bouhanni DNS. Apparently he is not fully fit due to recent events

https://twitter.com/x/status/1379737679466803204

View: https://twitter.com/Arkea_Samsic/status/1379737679466803204

 

[Bonimenier]

It took more than 15 minutes before there was a crash. What an exaggeration in the title!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Bouhanni DNS. Apparently he is not fully fit due to recent events

https://twitter.com/x/status/1379737679466803204

View: https://twitter.com/Arkea_Samsic/status/1379737679466803204

He had no problem racing on Sunday though. Imo, it's more likely he's using everything that's happened as an excuse to skip racing in today's weather.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Peloton already splitting amidst wind and crashes.

 

[Orbit501]

In the men's race...... Echelons!

And it's split the peloton already.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

4 riders (including Halvorsen) have crashed out so far. The race is truly living up to its reputation...

 

[glassmoon]

only ladies live on tv for now?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

only ladies live on tv for now?

Men's broadcast starts at 3pm unfortunately.

Edit; never mind, local TV are broadcasting. Not sure if georestricted: https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/126682/LIVE-Scheldeprijs-peloton-in-drie-stukken-door-hard-wind