I don’t really think of the Scheldeprijs as a Flandrian race. Despite its Antwerp finish and promotion by the Flanders Classics group, its flat as a tack parcours and start location in Terneuzen gives it a distinct Dutch flavour. Sure, there are some (relatively tame) pavé sectors and the rain usually makes an appearance but it’s one for the sprinters and most of the cobble monsters either keep their powder dry for Sunday or spin the legs for a couple of hours before heading to the bus. But it’s still a great midweek must-do, with the finish square in Schoten hosting three circuits and a pretty good party.

We headed out across the lowlands to the start and mingled around the team cars, doing a bit of trainspotting and mingling with the pros. The atmosphere is a lot more relaxed, understandably, than for a Monument, and even the temperature was kinder for the riders and a lack of leg warmers was evident. No sooner had the team buses rolled into town, the riders were off along the windswept Dutch coastline before heading into Belgium skirting the river Schelde which gives the race its name, and before we’d finished our lunch the place was deserted again, barriers removed and buses continuing their nomadic journey across northern Europe. Only the drunken singalong to Sweet Caroline wafting from a pub, we joined the convoy.

The square filled steadily in the early afternoon, the big screen flickered to life and the riders made their approach to the first of their finishing circuits. The cheap beer was more expensive here than the Ronde, but a sign in the local newsagent’s window offered cans of Jupiler for a buck less than just metres away, poured into a bigger plastic cup to boot. A nice little sideline for the ladies, one I’m surprised more savvy drinkers didn’t take up. The four seasons in one day theme continued throughout the afternoon, until finally heavy rain made the finale trickier for the riders but didn’t do much to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. Disqualifications and splits made for a small bunch sprint with none of the favourites featuring and yet another win for the dominant self-styled Wolf Pack.