2015 Scheldeprijs

{{Infobox cycling race report

| name = 2015 Scheldeprijs

| image = Scheldeprijs-2015_poster.jpg

| image_caption =Event poster with previous winner Marcel Kittel

| date = 8 April 2015

| distance = 200

| unit = km

| time = 4h 30' 10"

| speed = 44.417

| previous = 2014

| next = 2016

| first = Alexander Kristoff

| first_nat = NOR

| first_team = {{UCI team code|KAT|2015}}

| second = Edward Theuns

| second_nat = BEL

| second_team = {{UCI team code|TSV|2015}}

| third = Yauheni Hutarovich

| third_nat = BLR

| third_team = {{UCI team code|BSE|2015}}

}}

The 2015 Scheldeprijs was the 103rd edition of the Scheldeprijs cycling classic. It took place on 8 April, starting in Antwerp and ending in Schoten. The race was rated as a 1.HC event and was part of the 2015 UCI Europe Tour.{{cite web|title=Scheldeprijs 2015|url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Scheldeprijs_2015|website=ProCyclingStats|accessdate=7 April 2015}}

The Scheldeprijs particularly suited the sprinters as it included several cobbled roads but no significant climbs. The winner in the previous three editions, Marcel Kittel ({{UCI team code|GIA|2015}}) was forced to withdraw from the race due to illness; Mark Cavendish ({{UCI team code|EQS|2015}}), who had also won the race on three occasions, chose not to participate, as did André Greipel ({{UCI team code|LTS|2015}}). The race favourite was therefore Alexander Kristoff ({{UCI team code|KAT|2015}}), who had won the Tour of Flanders the previous weekend. Other riders considered to have a chance of victory included Peter Sagan ({{UCI team code|TTS|2015}}), Elia Viviani ({{UCI team code|SKY|2015}}) and Romain Feillu ({{UCI team code|BSE|2015}}).{{cite news|title=Scheldeprijs preview|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-2015/preview|accessdate=7 April 2015|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=7 April 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Hood|first1=Andrew|title=Kristoff headlines Scheldeprijs without Cavendish, Kittel|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/kristoff-headlines-scheldeprijs-without-cavendish-kittel_365726|accessdate=7 April 2015|work=VeloNews|date=7 April 2015}}

An early breakaway was brought back with {{Convert|4|km|abbr=off}} remaining, with the work done by {{UCI team code|KAT|2015|nolink=yes}}, {{UCI team code|QST|2015|nolink=yes}} and {{UCI team code|SKY|2015|nolink=yes}}. There was a large crash at the front of the peloton in the last two kilometres of the race. This took out many of the race favourites.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/scheldeprijs-finale-marred-by-mass-crash |title=Scheldeprijs finale marred by mass crash |accessdate=9 April 2015 |work=Cycling News}} Kristoff was without teammates in the final part of the race, but he was able to follow the {{UCI team code|FDJ|2015|nolink=yes}} train to win the sprint finish from the small group that had avoided the crash.{{Cite web|title = Kristoff wins yet again in Scheldeprijs|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-2015/results|accessdate = 2015-04-08|last = Benson|first = Daniel|date = 2015-04-08}}