STRONG TEAM SHOWING UNFOLDS FOR 5TH AT SCHELDEPRIJS

In its sixth Scheldeprijs edition for women, and with every previous running ending in a sprint, it would have been bold to bet against history repeating itself, especially with the entire 2025 podium on the start line. Among them was Chiara Consonni, who has contested every edition and secured three podium finishes, but was still chasing that elusive win.

The 132km course remained unchanged from the previous year; a large, straightforward 67km loop followed by three local circuits of 17km. Conditions were still and warm, removing the threat of weather-related challenges such as crosswinds. One key feature was the 1700m-long Broekstraat, a relatively tame stretch of well-kept cobbles that nonetheless added tension due to its very nature.

It was a lively race throughout, but the team remained consistently well represented at the front of affairs. Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Erja Bianchi and Nastya Kolesava were active in covering attacks around the second cobbled passage inside the final 40km, as the peloton stretched under pressure before easing and regrouping.

Despite the rhythm settling intermittently, the peloton remained restless, gradually shifting focus towards organising for the near-inevitable sprint finish. Jule Märkl, Nastya, Erja, and Maria Martins powered into the final 10km as a cohesive unit, holding prime position at the front.

Pressure through the final cobbled sector disorganised the peloton, and inside the last 2km, a large crash split the field. Agnieszka was unfortunately caught up, and while Chiara remained out of trouble, she found herself too far back to launch a competitive sprint. Against a formidable field of fast finishers, fifth place was the best she could achieve.

Here’s what Chiara had to say about her sixth appearance at Scheldeprijs.

“I had quite good legs today, and we were all very motivated for the victory. The first part of the race was quite okay. From the final cobblestone section to the finish, it didn’t go our way. I lost four teammates with crashes and other problems, and in the final, I was alone. I tried to position myself, and I wasn’t bad, but in the end, I made a mistake in the sprint, and the best I could do was fifth. It’s not what we came here for, so I’m disappointed to lose an opportunity.”

While Erja and Jule flexed their strengths with the WorldTour Team at Scheldeprijs, their CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation teammates were racing at Région Pays de la Loire Tour Féminin in France. Weronika Wąsaty was the team’s best finisher in the bunch sprint, crossing the line in 16th place. Today’s race marked the end of a lengthy period during which the development team was on the road, with training days and six races scattered between the Flanders area of Belgium and the Loire region of France.