Results Scheldeprijs Women 2026 | Charlotte Kool capitalises on chaotic crash-hit sprint in Schoten

Charlotte Kool powered to victory at Scheldeprijs Women 2026, emerging fastest from a disrupted bunch sprint after a late crash reshaped the finale in Schoten.

In the absence of Lorena Wiebes, the race was always expected to offer an opportunity for a new winner, and Kool delivered, timing her effort to perfection after a tense and fragmented run-in that saw several sprint trains thrown off course inside the final kilometres.

An early breakaway of seven riders built a lead of nearly three minutes, with Ilken Seynave among those up the road, but the move was always likely to be brought back as the sprint teams organised behind. Lidl-Trek took on much of that responsibility in support of Elisa Balsamo, particularly after the late withdrawal of Clara Copponi through illness, and the break was caught on the first passage of the finish in Schoten.

The race was then shaken by multiple crashes, first inside the final 70 kilometres and again later on, adding tension to an already nervous peloton. As the riders entered the local circuit, the cobbled Broekstraat sector became the focal point of repeated attacks.

SD Worx - Protime animated the race throughout, with Barbara Guarischi especially active, repeatedly trying to force a split. However, each move was shut down by the sprint teams, who were unwilling to allow any group clear.

Into the final lap, the race settled into a more controlled pattern. After a day on the offensive, SD Worx - Protime switched approach and began to organise their sprint train, while Lidl-Trek and Team Visma Lease a Bike also held firm at the front.

A late attack from Nina Buijsman Gerritse briefly threatened to disrupt the expected sprint, but she was caught inside the final five kilometres as the pace ramped up sharply.

The decisive moment came just outside the final two kilometres, where a heavy crash split the peloton and left a reduced group to contest the victory. From there, the sprint became a test of positioning and composure rather than pure lead-out execution.

Kool was perfectly placed in the chaos, holding her line in the final kilometre before launching her sprint to take the win in Schoten and underline her credentials as one of the fastest finishers in the peloton.