- Sep 20, 2017
- 10,805
- 19,904
- 28,180
The only non-mountainous stage race of the week, and so it isn't a surprise that Jakobsen, Philipsen, Bennett, Pedersen and late addition Ewan (edit: nope, it seems Lotto will send De Lie instead after all) are all using this as their final Tour prep race. And there's still room for an entertaining GC battle too.
Startlist
The route
Stage 1: Merelbeke - Maarkedal, 165.0k
Just like last year, the race starts with a circuit through Maarkedal, in the Flemish Ardennes, with the cobbled Berg ten Houte right before the finish line. Compared to last year, when Evenepoel took the race by its horns immediately, there are more climbs, with an additional ascent of Berg ten Houte as well as some other familiar hills early on, but the lap circuit has been extended with some pointless flat.
The difficulties start with the classic duo of Haaghoek and Leberg.
This is followed by Berendries...
...and Tenbosse...
...before an easier transition, up the Parikeberg, then passing through Wallonia via the uncategorised climb to Quatre Vents, and onto the final circuit, which is raced four times. Just like last year, they annoyingly pass the foot of Taaienberg without actually climbing it. Instead, they opt once again for the easy Fortstraat, corresponding with the first kilometre of the profile below.
We then have the Ellestraat...
...and, as stated previously, Berg ten Houte, just 2.8k from the line.
Stage 2: Beveren - Knokke-Heist, 175.6k
Sprint stage, unless the wind plays ball (and even then the terrain isn't that suited to echelons). As is tradition for anything finishing in Knokke-Heist (except for the TT last year, which was held away from the coast), the finish is on the Wandelaar, meaning the road kicks up in the final 100 metres.
Stage 3: Scherpenheuvel-Zichem - Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, 11.8k (ITT)
As always in this race, we have a fairly short TT to help shape the GC. The exaggerated y-axis makes it look a lot more rolling than it is, in reality it's a pretty flat course, much easier than the sprint finish in a different part of the municipality last year.
Stage 4: Durbuy - Durbuy, 172.3k
After last year's awful Ardennes stage, won by Caleb Ewan, this time... we have a lot of repeat climbs, with the key difference being that we end on a steep HTF. At least the circuit is repeated four times, so the accumulation is much greater.
The first climb is Champs des Hêtres, which is the first 2.2k of the profile below.
It is immediately followed by a climb the organisers have mislabelled as Côte de Petite Somme, corresponding with the final 2.4k of the profile below.
After an irregular descent, the straightforward Côte de Bende starts. This is the side they descended last year.
The next section is fairly easy, with benign gradients even on the brief uphill section that separates two descents. After some valley, we have a combination of climbs that was used towards the end of last year's circuit as well: Hermanne...
...and Grand Houmart, the first half of the profile below.
From here, the riders descend into the touristic centre of Durbuy, before climbing out the other side of the valley to the finish line, which is situated at the end of the profile below.
Stage 5: Gingelom - Beringen, 182.1k
One last rehash of last year's course, as we finish with a sprint stage to the former mines at Beringen once more. Because this isn't the Netherlands, the artificial hill that has been redeveloped for touristic purposes is not used by the race, although because it's Belgium, it is climbed in the local cyclocross event. The circuit is different than last year, meaning that the final straight leading into the same finish location is a bit longer.
Startlist
The route
Stage 1: Merelbeke - Maarkedal, 165.0k
Just like last year, the race starts with a circuit through Maarkedal, in the Flemish Ardennes, with the cobbled Berg ten Houte right before the finish line. Compared to last year, when Evenepoel took the race by its horns immediately, there are more climbs, with an additional ascent of Berg ten Houte as well as some other familiar hills early on, but the lap circuit has been extended with some pointless flat.
The difficulties start with the classic duo of Haaghoek and Leberg.
This is followed by Berendries...
...and Tenbosse...
...before an easier transition, up the Parikeberg, then passing through Wallonia via the uncategorised climb to Quatre Vents, and onto the final circuit, which is raced four times. Just like last year, they annoyingly pass the foot of Taaienberg without actually climbing it. Instead, they opt once again for the easy Fortstraat, corresponding with the first kilometre of the profile below.
We then have the Ellestraat...
...and, as stated previously, Berg ten Houte, just 2.8k from the line.
Stage 2: Beveren - Knokke-Heist, 175.6k
Sprint stage, unless the wind plays ball (and even then the terrain isn't that suited to echelons). As is tradition for anything finishing in Knokke-Heist (except for the TT last year, which was held away from the coast), the finish is on the Wandelaar, meaning the road kicks up in the final 100 metres.
Stage 3: Scherpenheuvel-Zichem - Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, 11.8k (ITT)
As always in this race, we have a fairly short TT to help shape the GC. The exaggerated y-axis makes it look a lot more rolling than it is, in reality it's a pretty flat course, much easier than the sprint finish in a different part of the municipality last year.
Stage 4: Durbuy - Durbuy, 172.3k
After last year's awful Ardennes stage, won by Caleb Ewan, this time... we have a lot of repeat climbs, with the key difference being that we end on a steep HTF. At least the circuit is repeated four times, so the accumulation is much greater.
The first climb is Champs des Hêtres, which is the first 2.2k of the profile below.
It is immediately followed by a climb the organisers have mislabelled as Côte de Petite Somme, corresponding with the final 2.4k of the profile below.
After an irregular descent, the straightforward Côte de Bende starts. This is the side they descended last year.
The next section is fairly easy, with benign gradients even on the brief uphill section that separates two descents. After some valley, we have a combination of climbs that was used towards the end of last year's circuit as well: Hermanne...
...and Grand Houmart, the first half of the profile below.
From here, the riders descend into the touristic centre of Durbuy, before climbing out the other side of the valley to the finish line, which is situated at the end of the profile below.
Stage 5: Gingelom - Beringen, 182.1k
One last rehash of last year's course, as we finish with a sprint stage to the former mines at Beringen once more. Because this isn't the Netherlands, the artificial hill that has been redeveloped for touristic purposes is not used by the race, although because it's Belgium, it is climbed in the local cyclocross event. The circuit is different than last year, meaning that the final straight leading into the same finish location is a bit longer.
Last edited:
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