2012 Tour of Belgium

Last updated
2012 Tour of Belgium
2012 UCI Europe Tour
Tour of Belgium Route 2012.png
Race details
Dates23—27 May
Stages5
Distance727 km (451.7 mi)
  2011
2013  

The 2012 Tour of Belgium was the 82nd edition of the Tour of Belgium cycling stage race. It took place from 23 May to 27 May 2012 in Belgium. The race is part of the UCI Europe Tour. It began with three relatively short stages, followed by two stages meant to be deciding the tour: an individual time-trial on Saturday and a longer stage through the hills of the Ardennes.

Contents

Different comparing to the previous years was that the leader in the race will wore a red jersey (instead of black), whereas the black jersey went to the most combative rider. To decide the combativity, there were three sprints in each stage (except for the time-trial), where in case of a breakaway, the first five riders earned points (10, 8, 6, 4 and 2). Based on the lead the breakaway has on the peloton, these riders received bonus points, going from 1 point for a 30-second lead up to 5 points for a lead of 4 minutes or more. Another change, as introduced during the 2011 Tour de France, was the so-called "supersprint": each stage had one supersprint, where riders earned points that counted for the yellow sprint jersey and bonification seconds for the general classification.

Schedule

StageRouteDistanceDateWinner
1 Mechelen to Buggenhout Plainstage.svg 162 kmWednesday, May 23Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER)
2 Lochristi to Knokke-Heist Plainstage.svg 169.5 kmThursday, May 24Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER)
3Knokke-Heist to Beveren Plainstage.svg 163 kmFriday, May 25Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER)
4 Turnhout to Arendonk Time Trial.svg 20.5 kmSaturday, May 26Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER)
5 Clavier to Engis Mediummountainstage.svg 212 kmSunday, May 27Flag of Colombia.svg  Carlos Betancur  (COL)

Teams

Twenty-one teams have been invited to the 2011 Tour of Belgium: 7 teams are from the UCI ProTeams, 7 are UCI Professional Continental Teams and 7 are UCI Continental Teams.

UCI ProTeamsUCI Professional Continental TeamsUCI Continental Teams
  1. Following a new regulation by the UCI, a sponsor name can not appear on the shirt of more than one team during a race. As such, although being invited, Jong Vlaanderen could not participate as a team due to the presence of Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator. Therefore, the race directors allowed Jong Vlaanderen to participate as a Belgian selection, where they selected 7 riders and were joined by Moreno De Pauw of the Rock Werchter Cycling Team.

Stages

Stage 1

23 May 2012 Mechelen to Buggenhout, 162 km (101 mi)

Early throughout the race, a breakaway of eight riders formed, consisting of Paolo Ciavatta, Leonardo Duque, Simon Geschke, Arnaud Jouffroy, Egidijus Juodvalkis, Philippe Legrand, Michael Schär and Jelle Wallays. With only 17 kilometres to go, Ciavatta, Schär and Wallays sprinted away from the group. They were however not able to stay out of the grasp of the peloton, where mainly Omega Pharma–Quick-Step and Lotto–Belisol had been chasing hard.

The peloton sprinted for the stage win in Buggenhout, where a photo finish was necessary to decide the winner as three riders crossed the line nearly simultaneously. Although Danilo Napolitano ostensively gestured and seemed sure of the victory, the photo finish clearly showed André Greipel to cross the line first, with Napolitano in second and Kenny van Hummel in third. Due to the bonification seconds, Greipel became the first overall leader. He also took the first yellow jersey as leader in the sprint classification, while Leonardo Duque took the black jersey as most combative. [1]

Stage 1 result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) Lotto–Belisol 3h 33' 11"
2Flag of Italy.svg  Danilo Napolitano  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone s.t.
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Kenny van Hummel  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM s.t.
4Flag of Italy.svg  Jacopo Guarnieri  (ITA) Astana s.t.
5Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Adam Blythe  (GBR) BMC Racing Team s.t.
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Michael Van Staeyen  (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator s.t.
7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Stefan van Dijk  (NED) Accent.jobs–Willems Veranda's s.t.
8Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Baptiste Planckaert  (BEL) Landbouwkrediet–Euphony s.t.
9Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Robin Stenuit  (BEL) Wallonie Bruxelles–Crédit Agricole s.t.
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tom Meeusen  (BEL) Telenet–Fidea s.t.
General Classification after Stage 1
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) Jersey red.svg Jersey yellow.svg Lotto–Belisol 3h 33' 01"
2Flag of Italy.svg  Danilo Napolitano  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone + 4"
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Kenny van Hummel  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 6"
4Flag of Lithuania.svg  Egidijus Juodvalkis  (LTU) Jersey white.svg Landbouwkrediet–Euphony + 7"
5Flag of Germany.svg  Simon Geschke  (GER) Argos–Shimano + 8"
6Flag of Colombia.svg  Leonardo Duque  (COL) Jersey black.svg Cofidis + 9"
7Flag of Italy.svg  Jacopo Guarnieri  (ITA) Astana + 10"
8Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Adam Blythe  (GBR) BMC Racing Team + 10"
9Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Michael Van Staeyen  (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator + 10"
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Stefan van Dijk  (NED) Accent.jobs–Willems Veranda's + 10"

Stage 2

24 May 2012 Lochristi to Knokke-Heist, 169.5 km (105.3 mi)

With still 145 kilometres to go, a group of five pelotonriders broke away from the peloton, achieving a lead of up to five minutes over the main bunch. The five riders were Pim Ligthart, Mark McNally, Aleksejs Saramotins, Ramon Sinkeldam and Jay Thomson. Again Omega Pharma–Quick-Step and Lotto–Belisol were chasing the group, but were unable to bring te gap down below three minutes with 20 kilometres to go. It was only when BMC Racing Team stepped up to help, the gap reduced further.

In the lead group, Sinkeldam sped away from the others and while the others were caught, he managed to stay out of the grasp of the peloton up to two kilometres of the finish line. For the second day in a row, the peloton sprinted for the stage win, with André Greipel and Danilo Napolitano again finishing first and second. Jacopo Guarnieri was the third man on the podium and due to the bonification seconds he became the new leader in the youth classification. Because of his win, Greipel strengthened his lead in both the general classification and the sprint classification. Leonardo Duque was still leading the combativity classification. [2]

Stage 2 result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) Jersey red.svg Lotto–Belisol 3h 46' 13"
2Flag of Italy.svg  Danilo Napolitano  (ITA) Jersey yellow.svg Acqua & Sapone s.t.
3Flag of Italy.svg  Jacopo Guarnieri  (ITA) Astana s.t.
4Flag of France.svg  Adrien Petit  (FRA) Cofidis s.t.
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Kenny van Hummel  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM s.t.
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Michael Van Staeyen  (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator s.t.
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Timothy Dupont  (BEL)Belgiums.t.
8Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Bert De Backer  (BEL) Argos–Shimano s.t.
9Flag of Russia.svg  Alexei Tsatevich  (RUS) Team Katusha s.t.
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Sven Vanthourenhout  (BEL) Landbouwkrediet–Euphony s.t.
General Classification after Stage 2
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) Jersey red.svg Jersey yellow.svg Lotto–Belisol 7h 19' 04"
2Flag of Italy.svg  Danilo Napolitano  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone + 8"
3Flag of Italy.svg  Jacopo Guarnieri  (ITA) Jersey white.svg Astana + 16"
4Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Kenny van Hummel  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 16"
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Pim Ligthart  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 17"
6Flag of Lithuania.svg  Egidijus Juodvalkis  (LTU) Landbouwkrediet–Euphony + 17"
7Flag of Germany.svg  Simon Geschke  (GER) Argos–Shimano + 18"
8Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mark McNally  (GBR) An Post–Sean Kelly + 18"
9Flag of Colombia.svg  Leonardo Duque  (COL) Jersey black.svg Cofidis + 19"
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Ramon Sinkeldam  (NED) Argos–Shimano + 19"

Stage 3

25 May 2012 – Knokke-Heist to Beveren, 163 km (101 mi)

Maxim Belkov, Tijmen Eising, Alessandro Donati, Pieter Vanspeybrouck en Coen Vermeltfoort were the attackers of the day. Belkov held out the longest, being caught only 8 kilometres from the finish line, before the third peloton sprint in three days was a fact. André Greipel and Danilo Napolitano again took the top two places. The jerseys did not change hands, except for the white jersey, which went to Adam Blythe. [3]

Stage 3 result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) Jersey red.svg Lotto–Belisol 4h 03' 34"
2Flag of Italy.svg  Danilo Napolitano  (ITA) Jersey yellow.svg Acqua & Sapone s.t.
3Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Adam Blythe  (GBR) BMC Racing Team s.t.
4Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Kenny van Hummel  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM s.t.
5Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Andrew Fenn  (GBR) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step s.t.
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tom Van Asbroeck  (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator s.t.
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Bert De Backer  (BEL) Argos–Shimano s.t.
8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lars Boom  (NED) Rabobank s.t.
9Flag of Russia.svg  Alexei Tsatevich  (RUS) Team Katusha s.t.
10Flag of Slovenia.svg  Borut Božič  (SLO) Astana s.t.
General Classification after Stage 3
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) Jersey red.svg Jersey yellow.svg Lotto–Belisol 11h 22' 28"
2Flag of Italy.svg  Danilo Napolitano  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone + 12"
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Kenny van Hummel  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 26"
4Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Adam Blythe  (GBR) Jersey white.svg BMC Racing Team + 26"
5Flag of Italy.svg  Jacopo Guarnieri  (ITA) Astana + 26"
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Pim Ligthart  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 27"
7Flag of Lithuania.svg  Egidijus Juodvalkis  (LTU) Landbouwkrediet–Euphony + 27"
8Flag of Russia.svg  Maxim Belkov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 27"
9Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lars Boom  (NED) Rabobank + 28"
10Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mark McNally  (GBR) An Post–Sean Kelly + 28"

Stage 4

26 May 2012 Turnhout to Arendonk, 20.5 km (12.7 mi)

Stage 4 result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 24' 04"
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lieuwe Westra  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 46"
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Niki Terpstra  (NED) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 52"
4Flag of Spain.svg  Carlos Barredo  (ESP) Rabobank + 1' 00"
5Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Serov  (RUS) RusVelo + 1' 05"
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lars Boom  (NED) Rabobank + 1' 11"
7Flag of Ukraine.svg  Andriy Hryvko  (UKR) Astana + 1' 15"
8Flag of Sweden.svg  Tobias Ludvigsson  (SWE) Argos–Shimano + 1' 19"
9Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Firsanov  (RUS) RusVelo + 1' 21"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Guillaume Van Keirsbulck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 1' 23"
General Classification after Stage 4
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Jersey red.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 11h 47' 02"
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lieuwe Westra  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 46"
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Niki Terpstra  (NED) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 52"
4Flag of Spain.svg  Carlos Barredo  (ESP) Rabobank + 1' 00"
5Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Serov  (RUS) RusVelo + 1' 05"
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lars Boom  (NED) Rabobank + 1' 09"
7Flag of Ukraine.svg  Andriy Hryvko  (UKR) Astana + 1' 15"
8Flag of Sweden.svg  Tobias Ludvigsson  (SWE) Jersey white.svg Argos–Shimano + 1' 19"
9Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Firsanov  (RUS) RusVelo + 1' 21"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Guillaume Van Keirsbulck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 1' 23"

Stage 5

27 May 2012 Clavier to Engis, 212 km (132 mi)

Stage 5 result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Colombia.svg  Carlos Betancur  (COL) Acqua & Sapone 5h 04' 18"
2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Kevin Pauwels  (BEL) Sunweb–Revor + 2"
3Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Firsanov  (RUS) RusVelo + 2"
4Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Philippe Gilbert  (BEL) BMC Racing Team + 5"
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lieuwe Westra  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 5"
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Bert De Waele  (BEL) Landbouwkrediet–Euphony + 8"
7Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Jersey red.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 8"
8Flag of Russia.svg  Dmitry Kozonchuk  (RUS) RusVelo + 8"
9Flag of Russia.svg  Alexandr Kolobnev  (RUS) Team Katusha + 11"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Carlos Barredo  (ESP) Rabobank + 13"
Final General Classification
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Jersey red.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 16h 51' 28"
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lieuwe Westra  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 43"
3Flag of Spain.svg  Carlos Barredo  (ESP) Rabobank + 1' 02"
4Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Firsanov  (RUS) RusVelo + 1' 11"
5Flag of Ukraine.svg  Andriy Hryvko  (UKR) Astana + 1' 26"
6Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Reda  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone + 1' 38"
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Philippe Gilbert  (BEL) BMC Racing Team + 1' 45"
8Flag of Slovenia.svg  Simon Špilak  (SLO) Team Katusha + 1' 47"
9Flag of Italy.svg  Manuel Quinziato  (ITA) BMC Racing Team + 1' 50"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Maarten Wynants  (BEL) Rabobank + 1' 58"

Classification leadership table

StageWinnerGeneral classification
Jersey red.svg
Algemeen klassement
Points classification
Jersey yellow.svg
Puntenklassement
Combativity Classification
Jersey black.svg
Prijs van de strijdlust
Young Rider classification
Jersey white.svg
Jongerenklassement
Team classification
Ploegenklassement
1 André Greipel André Greipel André Greipel Leonardo Duque Egidijus Juodvalkis Landbouwkrediet–Euphony
2 André Greipel Jacopo Guarnieri
3 André Greipel Adam Blythe
4 Tony Martin Tony Martin Tobias Ludvigsson Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
5 Carlos Betancur Pieter Serry RusVelo
Final Tony Martin André Greipel Leonardo Duque Pieter Serry RusVelo

Final standings

General classification

RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Jersey red.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 16h 51' 28"
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lieuwe Westra  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 43"
3Flag of Spain.svg  Carlos Barredo  (ESP) Rabobank + 1' 02"
4Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Firsanov  (RUS) RusVelo + 1' 11"
5Flag of Ukraine.svg  Andriy Hryvko  (UKR) Astana + 1' 26"
6Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Reda  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone + 1' 38"
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Philippe Gilbert  (BEL) BMC Racing Team + 1' 45"
8Flag of Slovenia.svg  Simon Špilak  (SLO) Team Katusha + 1' 47"
9Flag of Italy.svg  Manuel Quinziato  (ITA) BMC Racing Team + 1' 50"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Maarten Wynants  (BEL) Rabobank + 1' 58"

Points classification

RiderTeamPoints
1Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER) Jersey yellow.svg Lotto–Belisol 90
2Flag of Italy.svg  Danilo Napolitano  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone 75
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Kenny van Hummel  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM 58
4Flag of Spain.svg  Carlos Barredo  (ESP) Rabobank 53
5Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Jersey red.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 43
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lieuwe Westra  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM 42
7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lars Boom  (NED) Rabobank 42
8Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Adam Blythe  (GBR) BMC Racing Team 39
9Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Firsanov  (RUS) RusVelo 33
10Flag of Colombia.svg  Carlos Betancur  (COL) Acqua & Sapone 30

Combativity classification

RiderTeamPoints
1Flag of Colombia.svg  Leonardo Duque  (COL) Jersey black.svg Cofidis 87
2Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Michael Schär  (SUI) BMC Racing Team 43
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Ramon Sinkeldam  (NED) Argos–Shimano 35
4Flag of Italy.svg  Alessandro Donati  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone 26
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Pim Ligthart  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM 21
6Flag of South Africa.svg  Jay Thomson  (RSA) UnitedHealthcare 19
7Flag of Latvia.svg  Aleksejs Saramotins  (LAT) Cofidis 19
8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Coen Vermeltfoort  (NED) Rabobank 18
9Flag of Russia.svg  Maxim Belkov  (RUS) Team Katusha 16
10Flag of Italy.svg  Paolo Ciavatta  (ITA) Acqua & Sapone 14

Young rider classification

RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Pieter Serry  (BEL) Jersey white.svg Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator 16h 54' 08"
2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Romain Zingle  (BEL) Cofidis + 26"
3Flag of Russia.svg  Petr Ignatenko  (RUS) Team Katusha + 40"
4Flag of Sweden.svg  Tobias Ludvigsson  (SWE) Argos–Shimano + 1' 00"
5Flag of Lithuania.svg  Egidijus Juodvalkis  (LTU) Landbouwkrediet–Euphony + 1' 01"
6Flag of Colombia.svg  Carlos Betancur  (COL) Acqua & Sapone + 1' 39"
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Laurens De Vreese  (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator + 3' 33"
8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Pim Ligthart  (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM + 10' 15"
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Lubomir Petrus  (CZE) BKCP–Powerplus + 11' 12"
10Flag of Italy.svg  Matteo Trentin  (ITA) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 11' 25"

Team classification

TeamPoints
1 Flag of Russia.svg RusVelo 50h 39' 05"
2 Flag of Russia.svg Team Katusha + 1' 06"
3 Flag of the United States.svg BMC Racing Team + 2' 17"
4 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Vacansoleil–DCM + 3' 45"
5 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Landbouwkrediet–Euphony + 4' 35"
6 Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Astana + 9' 47"
7 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Rabobank + 11' 27"
8 Flag of Italy.svg Acqua & Sapone + 12' 23"
9 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Topsport Vlaanderen–Mercator + 12' 54"
10 Flag of France.svg Cofidis + 15' 37"

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References

  1. "Greipel wins photo-finish sprint" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2012-05-23.
  2. "Greipel scores two out of two in Tour of Belgium" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2012-05-24.
  3. "Greipel sprints to third win in Tour of Belgium" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2012-05-25.