The route is similar to last year’s, albeit the riders race in the opposite direction. As Friesland is completely flat strong winds have to be taken into account, especially near the coast.
After two large loops, one to the south, one to the north, the finale is played out on a local circuit at 17.3 kilometres.
Kilometre 165 is a Golden Kilometre, which means there are three intermediate sprints within 1,000 metres, all with times bonuses at 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Last year Elia Viviani outsprinted Danny van Poppel in Bolsward to take the first leader’s jersey. In light of the upcoming World Championships in Doha, on a route that’s tailor made for fast men, we can expect the fastest men in the world to be at the start in the 2016 Eneco Tour. The race features a number of fast stages.
Time bonuses on the line are 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Results/race report 1st stage, 2016 Eneco Tour.
Eneco Tour 2016 stage 1: Route maps, and more
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