The 1st stage of the BinckBank Tour is the first opportunity for fast men to shine. The race in Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands, is flat from start to finish. The area is known for its strong winds.
Stage 2 on the BinckBank Tour is a flat out-and-back ITT in Venray, where Wout Poels was born, before the 3rd stage travels to Antwerp. The features some cobbles and is predominantly flat, so once again the sprinters will be eyeing up their chances.
The BinckBank Tour’s 4th stage is a race from Blankenberge to Ardooie, which is a tried and tested arrival for fast men. Peter Sagan sprinted to victory on the false flat arrival in 2016 and 2017. At 209.2 kilometres, the 5th stage is the longest race of the 2018 edition, while the hills loom in the final weekend.
Stage 6 features 25 climbs and runs from Riemst, Belgium, to Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands. The last five hills are crammed within 13 kilometres and the last peak is crested 6.4 kilometres before the line.
The last stage of the BinckBank Tour travels to a finish halfway up the infamous Wall of Geraardsbergen. Resembling the Tour of Flanders, the route of the decisive 7th stage features sharp climbs and cobbles.
All stages, except the ITT, feature a Golden Kilometre, which is three intermediate sprints within 1,000 metres. Time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds are awarded for each sprint.
BinckBank Tour 2018: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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