Benelux Tour

Last updated
Benelux Tour
Renewi tour-logo-2023.svg
2023 logo
Race details
DateAugust
Region Benelux
Discipline Road
Competition UCI World Tour
TypeStage-race
Race directorJan Nys, Golazo
Web site www.beneluxtour.eu/nl/ OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
History
First edition2005 (2005)
Editions18 (as of 2023)
First winnerFlag of the United States.svg  Bobby Julich  (USA)
Most winsFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tim Wellens  (BEL) (3)
Most recentFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tim Wellens  (BEL)

The Benelux Tour (previously known as the Eneco Tour and the BinckBank Tour) is a road bicycle racing stage-race that is part of the UCI World Tour. The race was established in 2005 and was originally known as the Eneco Tour, named after the original sponsor. In 2017, the online discount broker BinckBank took over as the title sponsor, with the name of the race changing accordingly. [1] In 2021, with the absence of a title sponsor, the race was known again as the Benelux Tour. [2] The race was not held in 2022 due to conflicts with the racing calendar. [3] In 2023, waste management company Renewi joined as a sponsor and renamed the race once again, this time to the Renewi Tour. [4]

Contents

History

The Tour of the Netherlands began on 6 May 1948, but only became an annual event in 1975. From about 2000 it was known as the Eneco Tour. The start of the UCI's ProTour in 2005 saw the faltering tour reorganised and reinvigorated. From 2017 to 2020, the race was known as the BinckBank Tour. [1]

The Benelux Tour is a continuation of the faltering Tour of the Netherlands, which UCI president Hein Verbruggen deemed necessary for marketing reasons. [5] The Dutch Tour organisation got a better sponsor (ENECO Energie). But because the race was not difficult enough, it could not be accepted into the new ProTour. At that point the organisation sought help from the organisation of the Tour of Belgium and the Tour de Luxembourg. They envisaged a Tour of the Benelux that would replace the three. This led to the Tour of Belgium as a co-organiser. The Tours of Belgium and Luxembourg however continued as such. The co-organisation or incorporation of the Tour de Luxembourg did not materialize, and since its inception the Benelux Tour has not crossed into Luxembourgish territory yet.

Jerseys

The jersey colors for the classification leaders have changed several times over the years, mostly to reflect sponsor changes.

Year(s)GeneralPointsMountainsYoungCombativity
2005 [6] Jersey red.svg Jersey blue.svg Jersey white.svg Jersey yellow.svg No classification
2006 Jersey white.svg No classification
2007No jerseyNo classification
2008 Jersey white.svg Jersey red.svg
2009No classification
2010–2011 Jersey green.svg
2012–2014No classification Jersey black.svg
2015–2016 Jersey green.svg
2017 Jersey green.svg Jersey blue.svg Jersey black.svg
2018 Jersey red.svg
2019–2020 Jersey white.svg
2021 Jersey blue.svg Jersey cyan.svg
2023–2024 Jersey red.svg

Winners

General classification

The winners since 2005 have been: [7] [8]

Points classification

The winners of the points classification were: [8]

Mountains classification

There have only been mountains classifications in 2005, 2007 and 2008. The winners were: [8]

Young rider classification

The young rider classification is open for cyclists under 25. The winners of the young rider classification were: [8]

Combativity classification

The winners of the combativity classification were:

Team classification

Most stage wins

Last updated after Stage 5 of the 2024 Renewi Tour :

Cyclist# StagesStages
1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tom Boonen  (BEL)7 2006: Stages 1 (Hoogeveen, Netherlands), 3 (Westmalle, Belgium) and 5 (Balen, Belgium)
2008: Stages 1 (Roermond, Netherlands) and 4 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2009: Stage 3 (Hasselt, Belgium)
2015: Stage 3 (Ardooie, Belgium)
Flag of Germany.svg  André Greipel  (GER)7 2008: Stage 2 (Nieuwegein, Netherlands)
2010: Stages 2 (Ardooie, Belgium) and 6 (Heers, Belgium)
2011: Stages 1 (Sint Willebrord, Netherlands), 2 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2013: Stage 4 (Vlijmen, Netherlands)
2015: Stage 2 (Breda, Netherlands)
3Flag of Norway.svg  Edvald Boasson Hagen  (NOR)5 2008: Stage 6 (Brussels, Belgium)
2009: Stages 6 (Roermond, Netherlands) and 7 (Amersfoort, Netherlands) (ITT)
2011: Stage 6 (Sittard, Netherlands)
2016: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
4Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Sagan  (SVK)4 2016: Stages 3 (Ardooie, Belgium) and 4 (Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium)
2017: Stages 1 (Venray, Netherlands) and 3 (Ardooie, Belgium)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tim Wellens  (BEL)4 2014: Stage 6 (Aywaille, Belgium)
2015: Stage 6 (Houffalize, Belgium)
2017: Stage 6 (Houffalize, Belgium)
2019: Stage 4 (Houffalize, Belgium)
6Flag of the United States.svg  Tyler Farrar  (USA)3 2009: Stages 1 (Ardooie, Belgium), 2 (Brussels, Belgium) and 4 (Libramont, Belgium)
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Zdeněk Štybar  (CZE)3 2013: Stages 3 (Brouwersdam, Netherlands) and 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
2014: Stage 2 (Heusden, Netherlands)
Flag of Ireland.svg  Sam Bennett  (IRL)3 2019: Stage 1 (Hulst, Netherlands) and Stage 2 (Ardooie, Belgium) and Stage 3 (Aalter, Belgium)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jasper Philipsen  (BEL)3 2020: Stage 1 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2023: Stage 1 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2024: Stage 4 (Aalter, Belgium)
10Flag of Italy.svg  Alessandro Ballan  (ITA)2 2005: Stage 5 (Verviers, Belgium)
2012: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
Flag of France.svg  Sylvain Chavanel  (FRA)2 2009: Prologue (Rotterdam, Netherlands) (ITT)
2013: Stage 5 (Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands) (ITT)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Philippe Gilbert  (BEL)2 2006: Stage 7 (Ans, Belgium)
2011: Stage 3 (Andenne, Belgium)
Flag of Germany.svg  Marcel Kittel  (GER)2 2012: Stages 1 (Middelburg, Netherlands) and 4 (Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Robbie McEwen  (AUS)2 2007: Stage 3 (Putte, Belgium)
2010: Stage 1 (Rhenen, Netherlands)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tim Merlier  (BEL)2 2021: Stages 1 (Dokkum, Netherlands) and 4 (Ardooie, Belgium)
Flag of Italy.svg  Jonathan Milan  (ITA)2 2024: Stages 1 (Bilzen, Belgium) and 3 (Ardooie, Belgium)
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Matej Mohorič  (SLO)2 2021: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
2023: Stage 5 (Bilzen, Belgium)
Flag of Italy.svg  Manuel Quinziato  (ITA)2 2006: Stage 3 (Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands)
2015: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Svein Tuft  (CAN)2 2010: Prologue (Steenwijk, Netherlands) (ITT)
2012: Stage 6 (Ardooie, Belgium) (ITT)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Max van Heeswijk  (NED)2 2005: Stages 1 (Mierlo, Netherlands) and 5 (Hasselt, Belgium)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cervélo</span> Canadian bicycle manufacturer

Cervélo Cycles is a manufacturer of racing and track bicycles. Cervélo uses CAD, computational fluid dynamics, and wind tunnel testing at a variety of facilities including the San Diego Air and Space Technology Center, in California, US, to aid its designs. Frame materials include carbon fibre. Cervélo currently makes 5 series of bikes: the C series and R series of road bikes, the latter featuring multi-shaped, "Squoval" frame tubes; the S series of road bikes and P series of triathlon/time trial bikes, both of which feature airfoil shaped down tubes; and the T series of track bikes. In professional competition, cyclists have ridden Cervélo bicycles to victory in all three of road cycling's grand tours: the Tour de France; the Giro d'Italia; and the Vuelta a España. In 2023, Cervélo achieved a historic sweep of all three grand tours in a single year.

The lanterne rouge is the competitor in last place in the Tour de France. The phrase comes from the French for "Red Lantern" and refers to the red lantern hung on the rear vehicle of a passenger railway train or the brake van of a freight train, which signalmen would look for in order to make sure none of the couplings had become disconnected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lars Boom</span> Dutch racing cyclist

Lars Anthonius Johannes Boom is a professional cyclo-cross and mountain bike racing cyclist from the Netherlands. He has also competed professionally in road racing, having raced between 2004 and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Van Avermaet</span> Belgian cyclist

Greg Van Avermaet is a retired Belgian professional cyclist. Considered one of the most versatile riders of modern cycling, Van Avermaet was a specialist of the classic cycle races, but has also won stages and the general classification in stage races, particularly when run on a hilly terrain, such as the 2016 Tirreno–Adriatico, and the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire. His strong sprint finish enabled him to win sprints of small lead groups, but he has also won races after solo breakaways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edvald Boasson Hagen</span> Norwegian road racing cyclist

Edvald Boasson Hagen is a Norwegian professional road racing cyclist, who rides for UCI WorldTeam Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale. He was ranked as no. 3 in the world by UCI as of 31 August 2009, when he was 22 years old. He is known as an all-rounder, having won the Norwegian National Road Race Championships in 2012, 2015 and 2016. He is also a ten-time winner of the Norwegian National Time Trial Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joker Fuel of Norway</span> Norwegian cycling team

Joker Fuel of Norway was a UCI Continental cycling team based in Norway, managed by Birger Hungerholdt with assistance from directeur sportifs Gino van Oudehove and Anders Linnestad. The team had well known riders, including Alexander Kristoff who rode for the team from 2007 to 2009, and Edvald Boasson Hagen who joined the team in 2006 Maxbo–Bianchi and in his first season in the continental circuits he took eight wins including three stages of the Tour de l'Avenir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zdeněk Štybar</span> Czech cyclist

Zdeněk Štybar is a Czech former professional cyclist, who rode professionally in cyclo-cross and road bicycle racing between 2005 and 2024 for Telenet–Fidea, the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team and Team Jayco–AlUla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Eneco Tour</span> Cycling race

The 2009 Eneco Tour was the fifth edition of the Eneco Tour cycling stage race. It took place from 18 August to 25 August 2009 in the Benelux. Like the previous years, parts of the Netherlands and Belgium were covered. It was part of the inaugural UCI World Ranking. It began with a short individual time trial in Rotterdam and ended with a longer one in Amersfoort.

The 2010 Tour of Oman was the first edition of the Tour of Oman cycling stage race. It was rated as a 2.1 event on the UCI Asia Tour, and held from 14 February to 19 February 2010, in Oman. The race was won by Fabian Cancellara of Team Saxo Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Team Qhubeka NextHash</span> South African cycling team

Team Qhubeka was a UCI WorldTeam based in South Africa. The team rode to raise awareness and funds for Qhubeka, a South African not-for-profit organisation. The team was founded in 2007 and was the first-ever African team to ride the Tour de France (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad</span> Cycling race

The 2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad took place on 26 February 2011. It was the 66th edition of the international classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. This year's Omloop started and ended at St. Peter's Square in Ghent, Belgium and spanned 203 kilometers in the province of East Flanders. The race was the first 1.HC event in the 2011 UCI World Ranking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Eneco Tour</span> Cycling race

The 2011 Eneco Tour was the seventh running of the Eneco Tour cycling stage race. It started with an individual time trial in Amersfoort in the Netherlands on 8 August and finished on 14 August 2011 in Sittard-Geleen, also in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Vattenfall Cyclassics</span> Cycling race

The 2011 Vattenfall Cyclassics was the 16th edition of the Vattenfall Cyclassics, a single-day cycling race. It was held on 21 August 2011, over a distance of 215 km (133.6 mi), starting and finishing in Hamburg, Germany. It was the 22nd event of the 2011 UCI World Tour season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Wellens</span> Belgian road racing cyclist

Tim Wellens is a Belgian professional road cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates. He is the son of former racing cyclist Leo Wellens and the nephew of cyclists Paul and Johan Wellens.

The 2014 Eneco Tour was the tenth running of the Eneco Tour cycling stage race. It started on 11 August in Terneuzen and ended on 17 August in Sittard-Geleen, after seven stages. It was the 21st race of the 2014 UCI World Tour season.

The 2015 Eneco Tour was a road cycling stage race that took place in the Netherlands and Belgium between 10 and 16 August 2015. It was the 11th edition of the Eneco Tour stage race and was the twenty-first race of the 2015 UCI World Tour.

The 2017 BinckBank Tour was a road cycling stage race that took place between 7 and 13 August in the Netherlands and Belgium. It was a continuation of the Eneco Tour but was renamed following a change in title sponsor. As such, it was the 13th edition, the first one under the name BinckBank Tour. It was also the 29th event of the 2017 UCI World Tour. It was won by Tom Dumoulin.

References

  1. 1 2 "Binck Bank nieuwe sponsor Eneco Tour" [Binck Bank is the new sponsor of the Eneco Tour]. Wielerflits (in Dutch). 5 April 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. "Van der Poel, Dumoulin to race Benelux Tour". CyclingNews. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. "Benelux Tour rescheduled to 2023". renewitour.com. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. "Benelux Tour becomes Renewi Tour, the most sustainable cycling event on the calendar". renewitour.com. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. Graat, John (August 3, 2005). Fantastische' Pro Tour zegen voor profronde. Trouw (Dutch newspaper), p. 13.
  6. "Eneco Tour". Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  7. "Eneco-Tour du Benelux (Bel & Hol) - Cat. Pro-Tour" (in French). Memoire du Cyclisme. 2010-10-24. Archived from the original on 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Benelux Tour". Cycling archives. Retrieved 2011-08-14.