A Belgian one-day race where positioning, wind, and late accelerations decide who survives the final circuits.
Antwerp Port Epic, also known as the Sels Trophy, is a men's one-day race on the Belgian continental calendar. The course runs through the industrial port zone and flat polder roads around Antwerp, typically finishing with local circuits that reward sharp positioning and tactical awareness.
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This is Belgian racing stripped to its essentials: flat roads, crosswinds, tight corners, and a finale that punishes hesitation. The route through Antwerp's port infrastructure and surrounding polders creates opportunities for splits and late accelerations, and the race often comes down to who can hold position through the closing circuits. It rewards the kind of rider who thrives in kermesse chaos without the cobbles.
The course typically combines exposed stretches through the port zone with technical finishing circuits in or near Antwerp. Wind is the defining variable: on calm days, the race may hold together until a late sprint or small-group finish, but crosswinds can fracture the peloton early and turn the day into a positioning battle. The final circuits usually feature enough corners and roundabouts to keep the pace high and the front group selective. Riders who can accelerate out of turns, read echelon formation, and stay alert through repeated laps tend to emerge in the finale. This is not a race won by pure power or a single climb, but by tactical sharpness and the ability to handle repeated surges without losing contact.
The race follows flat roads through Antwerp province, suiting sprinters and fast finishers who can handle nervous positioning.
Held in October, the race catches riders in late-season form or fatigue, which can produce unexpected results.
Most recent winner: Timo Kielich (2025)
Won in 2021, lending WorldTour credibility to a continental race that benefits from attracting the sport biggest names.
