BinckBank Tour 2018 Route stage 1: Heerenveen (nld) – Bolsward (nld)

Monday, 13 August 2018 - The 1st stage of the BinckBank Tour is a flat affair in Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands. Expect fast finishers to shine at the end of the 177.3 kilometres race.

The riders set off near the Abe Lenstra stadium, home of football club Heerenveen. Following a lap through town the BinckBank Tour passes the stadium one more time to set sail for Joure, Sloten and Stavoren on the coast of the IJsselmeer, which is a closed off inland bay. The area is known for its strong winds.

Winds are a potential risk throughout the stage as the route continues along the coast to Hindeloopen, Workum and Bolsward. With 65.2 kilometres out the riders enter the closing circuit. Almost 5 kilometres later it's time for the first inspection of the finish. Three laps of 20.2 kilometres to go.

The finish is in Bolsward on the same place where the Eneco Tour's (BinckBank Tour's predecessor) 1st stage finished in 2016 with a Dylan Groenewegen sprint victory.

Starting at kilometre 154.1, the Golden Kilometre comes with three opportunities to win time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds within 1,000 metres. The first three riders on the line take 10, 6 and 4 seconds.