After a very early sprint to the finish by Dutch rider Charlotte Kool (Team Picnic PostNL), it looked like a dominant victory. However, she ran out of energy in the end, which is why Elisa Balsamo (Lidl - Trek) overtook her in the final metres. Shortly behind her, Charlotte Kool and Chiara Consonni (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) crossed the finish line in third place. The Italian was particularly happy about this victory, as she revealed in an interview afterwards.
This win is very important for me. I was finally able to finalise the work of my team-mates throughout the day - Elisa Balsamo
Scheldt Prize for Women 2025 - Result
Scheldeprijs WE: Schoten - Schoten
Scheldeprijs WE 2025: Scheldeprijs WE, Schoten - Schoten
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lidl - Trek | 03:11:25 |
| 2 | Team Picnic PostNL | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | Team SD Worx - Protime | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | Human Powered Health | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | Human Powered Health | +00:00:00 |
How the 2025 Scheldt Prize for Women went
The still young race, the women's Scheldt Prize, has only known one name since 2021: Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx - Protime). All four editions have been won by the Dutchwoman. This year, however, she is fully focussing on the Paris-Rubaix race on Saturday. This also means that there will be a new winner of the women's Scheldt Prize. The wind, which can make the race quite exciting and can cause upsets and breaks in the peloton, did not play a role in this year's event.
Two riders in the breakaway group
Caoimhe O'Brien (Cynisca Cycling) attacked after just two kilometres, but was caught by the peloton a short time later. The first breakaway group that actually managed to break away consisted of the two riders Amelia Tyler (Volta NXT Classic WE) and Allison Mrugal (Midwest Cycling Classic). The maximum lead of the two breakaway riders was 2:30 minutes. After 42 kilometres, Stina Kagevi (Team Coop - Repsol) also tried her luck to break away from the peloton. However, this and other breakaway attempts were very short-lived and not crowned with success.
Crashes by co-favourite Baker and others in the peloton
Georgia Baker (Liv AlUla Jayco) crashed 66 kilometres before the finish, but was visibly uninjured. However, the co-favourite had to change her bike as she had a defect and was escorted back to the peloton by her team.
The riders Alison Avoine (St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 WE), Amy Gornall (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) and Mieke Docx (Lotto Ladies) crashed just 51 kilometres from the finish after their bikes touched. Docx then had to abandon the race and was taken to hospital. Chloé Desmet (DD Group Pro Cycling Team) had a flat tyre 41 kilometres from the finish and had to wait for her team's support car.
Unease in the peloton 26 kilometres before the finish
Due to the road, an eight-man group formed 26 kilometres before the finish, which was able to break away from the peloton by a few metres. From this point on, there were more attacks, initially by Zoe Bäckstedt (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) and Marie Schreiber (Team SD Worx - Protime). These attacks caused the peloton to split several times. As a result, the two breakaway riders Tyler and Mrugal were caught by the chasing group. Their lead melted away within a very short space of time.
The group of now ten riders built up a lead of up to 20 seconds. Team Picnic PostNL then took over the work in the peloton to catch up with the breakaway group. With the sprinter Charlotte Kool (Team Picnic PostNL), the team had a good reason to go for a sprint finish.
Victory in the final sprint
At one point, it actually looked as if the breakaway group could cross the finish line first. However, the peloton caught up with the group in the final kilometre and it came down to a sprint to the finish. Elisa Balsamo had her nose in front at the end and won just ahead of Charlotte Kool.
