Mark Cavendish edged out by Marcel Kittel in Scheldeprijs

Marcel Kittel (right) is a four-time winner of the 207.8km race from Antwerp to Schoten

Mark Cavendish was beaten in a sprint finish by German Marcel Kittel in the one-day Scheldeprijs race.

Manxman Cavendish, riding for Team Dimension Data, was well positioned on the wheel of Kittel entering the finishing straight in Belgium.

But the Etixx-Quick-Step rider narrowly held on to win in four hours 54 minutes and five seconds - his fourth win in the event in the past five years.

Germany's Andre Greipel, riding for Lotto-Soudal, was third.

Cavendish was bidding for a fourth victory in the race himself, having won in 2007, 2008 and 2011.

Scheldeprijs final leading positions (Antwerp-Schoten 207.8km):

1 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx-Quick-Step 4hrs 54mins 05secs

2 Mark Cavendish (Gbr) Dimension Data

3 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal

4 Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

5 Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

6 Danny van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky

7 Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin

8 Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale Pro Cycling

9 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo

10 Daniel McLay (Gbr) Fortuneo-Vital Concept all at same time

Selected Others:

79 Scott Thwaites (Gbr) Bora-Argon 18 at 51secs

113 Adam Blythe (Gbr) Tinkoff Team 3mins 05secs

122 Luke Rowe (Gbr) Team Sky 4mins 10secs