The 1st stage is played out in the flattest province of the Netherland, Friesland, so the first bunch bunch is expected. Stage 2 is just as flat, but the winner will not be a spinter, as this is an individual time trial.
On the 3rd stage and the 4th stage it’s back to the fast men before the last three races are tailor made for hilly specialists.
Stage 5 is the Benelux Tour’s take on the Amstel Gold Race. The 188 kilometres route packs in fifteen climbs. The last one – Letenberg: 400 metres at 8% -, is crested with 4.9 kilometres to go.
The 6th stage is a long race and it’s played out in the Ardennes, so one could argue that this is Liège–Bastogne–Liège Benelux Tour style. The 207.6 kilometres race travels to Houffalize, where Tim Wellens was victorious on three earlier occassions. Two 26.8 kilometres laps with both four climbs round out the route.
The last stage is the Tour of Flanders à la Benelux Tour. The race comes down to a hilly circuit of 24.9 killometres around the Wall of Geraardsbergen. It’s tackled thee times and features four climbs, some cobbled, some not. The stage finishes halfway up the Wall of Geraardsbergen on a 500 metres climb at 5%.
Benelux Tour 2021: routes, profiles, more
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