Eneco Tour 2015: The Route

The 11th edition of the Eneco Tour opens in Friesland, a northern provence of the Netherlands. With both start and finish of stage 1 in Bolsward this is extraordinary, as the race usually focusses on the south of the Netherlands and Belgium. And yes, that’s where the 2nd stage and 3rd stage are raced – stage 2 leads in 180 kilometres from Breda to Breda, the Netherlands, while stage 3 is a Belgian party from Beveren to Ardooie. In last two editions, Bouhanni (2014) and Renshaw (2013) were victorious in the Flemish arrival place. By the way, Breda should be for the sprinters also.

On August 13, stage 4 offers a 13.9 kilometres ITT in and around Hoogerheide. In 2014, Tom Dumoulin won the Eneco’s time trial, back then held in Breda.

As usual, the Eneco Tour is closed by a series of variations on Amstel Gold Race, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Flanders. Stage 5 leads from Riemst to Sittard-Geleen on a route resembling Amstel Gold Race. The next day brings the Queen Stage to the Ardennes in the Wallonian part of Belgium. In 200 kilometres stage 6 leads to Houffalize. In 2014, Tim Wellens laid the fundament of his overall victory in the Ardennes.

On August 16, stage 7 is set to start in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. The Eneco version of the Tour of Flanders leads to the Wall of Geraardsbergen after a series of steep (cobbled) climbs. Greg Van Avermaet won the stage in last year’s edition, while 2014 saw Zdenek Stybar taking both stage win and overall victory in Geraardsbergen.

Eneco Tour 2015: Routemaps and more

Click on the images to zoom.

All stages

Route 1st stage at Google Maps

Route 2nd stage at Google Maps

Route and profile 3rd stage

Route and profile 4th stage

Route and profile 5th stage

Route en profile 6th stage

Route en profile 7th stage

Start and finish at Google maps

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