BinckBank Tour 2019 Route stage 4: Houffalize - Houffalize

Thursday 15 August - The 4th stage of the BinckBank Tour starts and finishes in Houffalize. Following a small lap of 6.8 kilometres the riders tackle a lumpy circuit of 29.8 kilometres three times. So the route amounts to 96.2 kilometres.

The small lap features the first climb of 700 metres at 6%. The uphill will return three times, as it is featured in the 29.8 kilometres circuit.

The toughest climb appears at the start of each round. The riders leave Houffalize via the Côte de Saint-Roch - 1,100 metres at 11% - before the mentioned 700 metres hill reappears. The route then continues to the Rue Bois des Mines. After 6.9 kilometres in each round the riders crest a 1,200 metres climb at 8% on this 'Road of the Wooden Mines'. That's three short yet sharp hills inside 7 kilometres.

The next uphill appears 8 kilometres later near the La Chouffe brewery. The Côte Achouffe is 800 metres long and the average slope sits at 8%. Hardly time for a breather as the narrow Le Vieux Chemin - 400 metres at 5% - begins 3.5 kilometres after the Achouffe. It is the last climb in each round, which is crested 11 kilometres before Houffalize.

Tim Wellens is in love with Houffalize. He won the trying Ardennes stage on the BinckBank Tour of 2015 and 2017.

Starting at kilometre 75.8, the Golden Kilometre serves three opportunities to gain 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.

Another interesting read: results/race report 4th stage 2019 BinckBank Tour.