April 04, 2018 (Schoten, Netherlands) – It was a good day at the office for Canada’s Antoine Duchesne (Groupama – FDJ) at 200.4km Scheldeprijs in the Netherlands as he and Owain Doull (Gbr) Team Sky escaped with 60km to go building up a 1:30 lead during the final three laps.

 

Katsuha led the charge to reel in the duo who were caught with 9km to go as race favourite Marcel Kittel (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin suffered a puncture and Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) ended up securing yet another win for Quick-Step Floors. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe was second and Chris Lawless (Gbr) Team Sky finished third.

“Another good day in the rain with lots of wind which is normal for the Netherlands. Legs are good. We were on last lap of the final 3-lap circuit in a breakaway and got caught about six or seven kilometers from the finish. It was one of my best days since the start of the season. I had really good feelings. I was able to enjoy it and make me happy at the end. It looks good for Paris-Roubaix Sunday, the big goal. We all believe that we are capable of winning,” said Duchesne.

Earlier in the race fellow Canuck Hugo Houle (Can) Astana Pro was caught in a chase group that failed to stop at a railway crossing when the lights were flashing and all were disqualified.

“Just before the crossing, there was a crash in the peloton. There were about 50 riders in front and I was behind, on the hunt, about 5 or 10 seconds from the leaders with a third group behind me,” explained Houle. “We arrived at the crossing and I was in front in the second group. I saw that the lights were blinking, but was already on the way and the barriers started to drop afterwards. We continued, but they disqualified us. I could not stop in this situation because we were riding so fast, at about 60km/h. The rule states that when the lights are blinking, one must stop. If the same thing happens tomorrow, it will be the same. It’s just bad timing and it’s not easy for the commissioners to interpret the situation.”

Alex Cataford (Can) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team finished 56th.

Results (brief)

1. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Quick-Step Floors 4:23:51
2. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Chris Lawless (Gbr) Team Sky
4. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Soudal
5. Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) Vital Concept Club
6. Max Walscheid (Ger) Team Sunweb
7. Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Groupe Gobert
8. Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
9. Bram Welten (Ned) Fortuneo-Samsic
10. Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha-Alpecin

51. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Groupama – FDJ 3:11
56. Alex Cataford (Can) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 4:39
DNF Benjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF Hugo Houle (Can) ASTANA PRO