Ardooie is a regular host in the Eneco Tour. Usually a bunch sprint is the outcome on the false flat arrival. Last year home rider Tom Boonen bested Arnaud Démare and Elia Vivani, while two years ago it was Nacer Bouhanni outsprinting Luka Mezgec and Giacomo Nizzolo. In 2013 Mark Renshaw jumped clear in the finale to solo to victory ahead of the sprinting pack.
In a more distant past Tyler Farrar, André Greipel and (him again) Tom Boonen took the flowers in Ardooie.
Departure place Blankenberge makes its debut in the Eneco Tour. The peloton leaves from the Grote Markt and after a local round the first intermediate sprint is near the place where it all started. Then the riders set sail for the closing circuit in Ardooie.
With 160 kilometres done the Eneco Golden KM is scheduled – three intermediates sprinters for times bonuses at 3, 2 and 1 seconds within a 1,000 metres frame. Bonuses at 10, 6 and 4 seconds lay waiting on the line.
Results/race report 3rd stage, 2016 Eneco Tour.
Eneco Tour 2016 stage 3: Route maps and more
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