Eneco Tour 2014: Favourites

Tom Dumoulin
Last edition’s runner up is 23-year old homerider Tom Dumoulin. Obviously grown stronger and more experienced in 2014 with good performances in Criterium International and both Tour de Suisse and Tour de France. Is the best time trialist of the Netherlands and arguably the world, of course with exception of the one and only Tony Martin.

Philippe Gilbert
Another homerider, though this time from Belgium, is former world champion Gilbert. He totals six wins in Tour of Lombardy, Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege combined. Since the race boils down to three similar stages in the closing weekend the 32-year man of the Ardennes is definetely one to watch.

Lars Boom
Boom, Eneco winner of 2012, boosts with confidence since his heroic win in the cobbled stage of last Tour de France. But odds are one the closing weekend brings a climb or two too many for his taste.

Fabian Cancellara
This year’s winner in the Tour of Flanders, runner-up in Milan-San Remo and third in Paris-Roubaix – Spartacus is still the classics rider par excellence. Put three of those in a row at the end of an otherwise flat Eneco Tour and see what happens…

Zdenek Stybar
Reigning World Cyclo-cross champion and title dedender in the Belgian/Dutch Eneco Tour. Won two stages plus the overall last year, running season saw him take the Czech road race championships and good results in Paris-Roubaix (5th) and Milan-San Remo (7th).