The Benelux Tour kicks off on Monday with an opening stage from Surhuisterveen to Dokkum, a first huge chance for the sprinters. There are candidates aplenty with an entry list that boasts Caleb Ewan, Dylan Groenewegen, Cees Bol, Fernando Gaviria, Alvaro Hodeg, Michael Morkov, Edward Theuns, Peter Sagan and Alexander Kristoff. The next day a 11km individual time trial in Lelystad will be a prime opportunity for specialists such as Stefan Küng, Kasper Asgreen, Tom Dumoulin and Remco Evenepoel.
Other previously announced contenders include the likes of Jasper Stuyven, Greg Van Avermaet, Oliver Naesen, Tiesj Benoot, Philippe Gilbert, Tim Wellens, Mike Teunissen, Marc Hirschi, Søren Kragh Andersen, Jakob Fuglsang, Alexey Lutsenko and Mads Pedersen. Some interesting new names to be added to that list are Matej Mohoric, Dylan Teuns, Sonny Colbrelli, Geraint Thomas, Wilco Kelderman and Victor Campenaerts.
“I believe this is the most impressive entry list we have ever had in the Benelux Tour”, says Christophe Impens, CEO of organiser Golazo Cycling. “There will also be a lot of Belgian and Dutch riders wanting to prove themselves with a view to a possible world championship call-up. We are looking forward to seven days of fireworks.”
The fight for the rainbow jersey, which follows at the end of September in Flanders, looms large over the horizon. That’s why several elite riders have chosen the Benelux Tour on the road to the world championships, although for many success in a UCI WorldTour race is a main goal in its own right.
The third stage from Belgian Essen to the Dutch town Hoogerheide, and the fourth stage from Aalter to Ardooie are likely to offer two more chances for a bunch sprint but the final weekend is one for the classic punchers.
Friday kicks off the GC proceedings with the stage from Riemst to Bilzen on the Dutch border, which features several climbs in Belgian Limburg and Liège, including Slingerberg, Côte de Hallembaye, Côte de Plank, Côte de Platanes, Keiberg and Letenberg. Saturday ups the ante with a hard Ardennes stage from Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve to Houffalize, with riders conquering the Côte de Magerat, Côte Bérismenil, Côte Le Vieux Chemin, Côte Achouffe, Côte de Bois des Moines and the Côte Saint-Roch.
Sunday’s final stage heads from Namur to Geraardsbergen, in which ascents of the Bosberg, Denderoordstraat and the famed Muur van Geraardsbergen could easily turn the general classification upside down. As is tradition, the finish line is drawn on the Vesten in the heart of Geraardsbergen.
Teamleader points classification
In addition to the general classification the Benelux Tour also features a Super 8 Combativity classification and the Teamleader points classification.
Teamleader, a fast growing IT company that helps businesses via its work management software, is the Benelux Tour’s newest partner. “These days over 12,000 businesses and their teams use our work management software on a daily basis, from IT agencies and digital marketers, to plumbers and construction companies,” says Teamleader founder and CEO Jeroen De Wit. “This makes us number one in Belgium and the Netherlands. With that in mind we decided to support the Benelux Tour. Practising sports and building companies is not something you do on your own, you can always count on others to motivate and inspire you. And that’s exactly what Teamleader wants to do by supporting the Benelux Tour.”
Safety first
The Benelux Tour organisers also joined forces with Boplan, a company specialising in the development and production of sustainable and highly efficient polymer crash and impact protection materials. Boplan’s so-called safety totem poles have become a welcome sight in cycling, being deployed in many danger zones as both preventative caution signs and as protective cushions during a crash. As always the race will also use digital signage. The finish zones will feature slanted barriers made by Delrue, without perilous, protruding feet. On the final 200 metres Boplan’s Race Barriers are added as well: 1,4 metre tall yellow polymer fencing.
All Benelux Tour stages have been reconned several times by former pro cyclists, making use of the ‘way-in’ and ‘way-out’ system. That means motorcycles following the peloton won’t have to constantly be close to the riders to follow the race, but are able to use a system of detours away from the course to let riders pass before they rejoin. As always two regulators will ride along to ensure a smooth running of the stage.
STAGE SCHEDULE BENELUX TOUR:
Monday 30 August: Surhuisterveen ? Dokkum
Tuesday 31 August: Lelystad (individual time trial)
Wednesday 1 September: Essen ? Hoogerheide
Thursday 2 September: Aalter ? Ardooie
Friday 3 September: Riemst ? Bilzen
Saturday 4 September: Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve ? Houffalize
Sunday 5 September: Namen ? Geraardsbergen
The Benelux Tour is broadcast live every day on Sporza, Tipik and Eurosport, with extended highlights on NOS.
