We take a look at the testing route for the cross-border challenge that is the Eneco Tour.
Preview of the eighth edition
The Eneco Tour – also known as Tour of the Benelux – has now firmly established itself as one of the most challenging mid-season stage races on the calendar.
Despite the Low Countries being renowned for their largely flat roads, the race organisers routinely seek out the most testing bergs in the region in a bid to test out the world’s elite.
Run in equal parts across Holland and Belgium, the race has often rewarded the strong men in the bunch, and with precious WorldTour points up for grabs there will be no quarter given once again.
The race will be spiced up in the early going in 2012, with the introduction of a team time trial around Sittard set to shake-up the standings.
Team Sky took overall honours in the race last season through Edvald Boasson Hagen and once again arrive with a strong squad.
Stages
Monday 6 August – Stage one: Waalwijk to Middelburg, 203.9km
Starting in Holland, the race heads west out of Waalwijk towards the North Sea on some exposed roads and the most northerly point of the race before arriving in Middelburg. Here the riders will negotiate a finishing circuit, crossing the line for the first time and a sprint point ahead of a 43km clockwise loop. The sprint trains will form up and a tight right-hander with 500 metres to go could be a factor.
TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 between 1330-1530 with highlights at 2100-2200.
Tuesday 7 August – Stage two: Sittard-Geleen (team time trial), 18.9km
Perched on the Dutch/German border, each eight-man team will do battle against the clock in the team time trial. A departure for the event, the spectacle sees the teams head north-east through Tuddern and Hongen. Long, straight drags interspersed with roundabouts will leave no hiding place and highlight the strongest team. The riders make a final right turn at Doenrade before powering back to the finish.
TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 between 1330-1530 with highlights at 2100-2200.
Wednesday 8 August – Stage three: Riemst to Genk, 188km
The race arrives in Belgium for a lumpy day which should give the punchy climbers their first chance to influence the race. The riders roll out of Riemst onto the day’s large circuit, getting a good look at the finishing climb in Genk before heading in search of tougher terrain. That comes as the race heads back into Holland with climbs of the Bemelerberg (twice) and the famous Cauberg (77.1km). The latter is set to play a starring role in the upcoming World Championships. Further climbs up to Hallembaye (113.4km) and the Mulzenberg (122km) could force an elite selection ahead of the finish.
TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 between 1330-1530 with highlights at 2100-2200.
Thursday 9 August – Stage four: Heers to Bergen op Zoom, 213.3km
A lack of categorised climbs doesn’t mean that the longest stage of the race is any less challenging. After a brief loop around the start town in Heers the peloton begins its journey north. The real action should begin as the race crosses the border back into Holland with a series of bonus sprints up for grabs with time bonifications on offer. The sprinters will have their sights fixed on the 15.4km finishing circuit. A series of 90-degree turns inside 3km should make things interesting en route.
TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 between 1330-1530 with highlights at 2100-2200.
Friday 10 August – Stage five: Hoogerheide to Aalter, 184.6km
Stage five kicks off in Hoogerheide and unwinds its way out of Holland, crossing both the Oosterschelde and the Westerschelde before entering Belgium via Ertvelde. Again there are two late chances to capture bonus seconds, one in Oostwinkel and then the first time across the line in Aalter. Once again a finishing loop should see the race come back together. A near-dead turn with 300m to go will mean that positioning is vital heading into the last corner.
TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 between 1330-1530 with highlights at 2100-2200.
Saturday 11 August – Stage six: Ardooie (time trial), 17.4km
The penultimate stage will be a crucial one in deciding the destination of the Eneco title. 17.4km around Ardooie on an out-and-back course will see the time gaps open out yet further. The riders head out along the Pittemstraat before turning hard left on to the Brugsesteenweg. From there the course takes a diversion over to Koolskamp where the riders head back on themselves, passing their rivals on the other side of the road on the run back down to Ardooie.
TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 between 1330-1530 with highlights at 2045-2145.
Sunday 12 August – Stage seven: Maldegem to Geraardsbergen, 214.5km
Far from being a sedate end to the race, the final stage looks set to be a spectacular finale with a welcome return of a famous climb. After being dropped from the route of the Tour of Flanders the Muur of Geraardsbergen will return to a decisive role, climbed three times during the stage including a final passage just 5km from home. Other tests from the Spring Classics litter an up and down parcours. Run in tandem twice, the Valkenberg, Tenbosse and Eikenmolen will serve to soften up the legs ahead of the final. Whoever emerges on top will prove to be a worthy winner of the race.
TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 between 1330-1530 with highlights at 2015-2115.
Team Sky history
Edvald Boasson Hagen is a two-time winner of the event, both in 2009 and last time out in 2011. Greg Henderson won a stage of the 2010 edition into Roermond in the team’s first outing. Race Coach Bobby Julich can also count himself among the winners of the race in 2005, while both Michael Rogers (2008) and Servais Knaven (2000 in a previous iteration) have placed third on the podium.
