2017 Tour of Belgium

The 2017 Tour of Belgium, known as the 2017 Baloise Belgium Tour for sponsorship purposes, was the 87th edition of the Tour of Belgium cycling stage race. It took place from 24 to 28 May 2017 in Belgium, as part of the 2017 UCI Europe Tour; it was categorised as a 2.HC race. Defending champion Dries Devenyns (Quick-Step Floors) did not take part in the race, as he was taking part in the concurrent Giro d'Italia.^[2]

2017 Tour of Belgium

2017 UCI Europe Tour
Race details
Dates	24–28 May
Stages	5
Distance	728.6 km (452.7 mi)
Winning time	16h 59' 42"[1]
Results
Winner  Jens Keukeleire (BEL) (Belgium (national team))   Second  Rémi Cavagna (FRA) (Quick-Step Floors)   Third  Tony Martin (GER) (Team Katusha–Alpecin) Points  Jens Debusschere (BEL) (Lotto–Soudal) Combativity  Kenneth Vanbilsen (BEL) (Cofidis)   Team Quick-Step Floors
← 2016 2018 →

The race was won by Jens Keukeleire, riding for the Belgium national team.^[3] Keukeleire trailed overnight leader Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step Floors) by a second going into the final stage, but bonus seconds gained in the race's "golden kilometre" – where three intermediate sprint positions were held within the space of a kilometre – allowed Keukeleire to move into the lead on the road, and despite crashing in the final three kilometres, he was able to win the race by six seconds from Cavagna.^[1] Three-time race winner Tony Martin of Team Katusha–Alpecin completed the podium, five seconds further behind Cavagna.^[1]

In the race's other classifications, Jens Debusschere (Lotto–Soudal) won the points classification, the combativity classification was won by Cofidis rider Kenneth Vanbilsen, while the teams classification was taken by Quick-Step Floors, after placing three riders in the top five places overall.^[1]

Teams

20 teams were selected to take part in Tour of Belgium.^[4] Five of these were UCI WorldTeams, with ten UCI Professional Continental teams, four UCI Continental teams and a Belgium national team.

UCI WorldTeams

• Astana
• Team Katusha–Alpecin
• Lotto–Soudal
• Quick-Step Floors
• Trek–Segafredo

UCI Professional Continental teams

• Aqua Blue Sport
• Cofidis
• Direct Énergie
• Nippo–Vini Fantini
• Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij
• Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise
• Vérandas Willems–Crelan
• Wanty–Groupe Gobert
• WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
• Fortuneo–Vital Concept

UCI Continental teams

• Beobank–Corendon
• Cibel–Cebon
• Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice
• Telenet–Fidea Lions

National teams

• Belgium

Schedule

The race itinerary was announced on 23 February 2017.

Stage	Date	Course	Distance	Type		Winner
1	24 May	Lochristi to Knokke-Heist	178.8 km (111.1 mi)		Flat stage	Bryan Coquard (FRA)
2	25 May	Knokke-Heist to Moorslede	199.0 km (123.7 mi)		Flat stage	Mathieu van der Poel (NED)
3	26 May	Beveren to Beveren	13.4 km (8.3 mi)		Individual time trial	Matthias Brändle (AUT)
4	27 May	Ans to Ans	167.8 km (104.3 mi)		Intermediate stage	Maurits Lammertink (NED)
5	28 May	Tienen to Tongeren	169.6 km (105.4 mi)		Flat stage	Jens Debusschere (BEL)
Total		728.6 km (452.7 mi)

Stages

Stage 1

24 May 2017 — Lochristi to Knokke-Heist, 178.8 km (111.1 mi)^[5]

Result of Stage 1[6] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Bryan Coquard (FRA) Direct Énergie 4h 08' 58" 2  Jens Debusschere (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 0" 3  Daniel McLay (GBR) Fortuneo–Vital Concept + 0" 4  Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 0" 5  Roy Jans (BEL) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect + 0" 6  Bert Van Lerberghe (BEL) Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 0" 7  Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 0" 8  Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) Cofidis + 0" 9  Kenny Dehaes (BEL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 0" 10  Nicolas Marini (ITA) Nippo–Vini Fantini + 0"

General classification after Stage 1[6] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Bryan Coquard (FRA) Direct Énergie 4h 08' 48" 2  Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) Aqua Blue Sport + 1" 3  Jens Debusschere (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 4" 4  Daniel McLay (GBR) Fortuneo–Vital Concept + 6" 5  Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 6" 6  Oliver Naesen (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 8" 7  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 8" 8  Élie Gesbert (FRA) Fortuneo–Vital Concept + 9" 9  Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 10" 10  Roy Jans (BEL) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect + 10"

Stage 2

25 May 2017 — Knokke-Heist to Moorslede, 199 km (124 mi)^[7]

Result of Stage 2[8] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Beobank–Corendon 4h 43' 12" 2  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 0" 3  Wout van Aert (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 0" 4  Oliver Naesen (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 0" 5  Olivier Pardini (BEL) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect + 0" 6  Florian Sénéchal (FRA) Cofidis + 0" 7  Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 0" 8  Tony Martin (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 3" 9  Julien Vermote (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 3" 10  Maarten Wynants (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 5"

General classification after Stage 2[8] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors 8h 51' 57" 2  Wout van Aert (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 6" 3  Oliver Naesen (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 8" 4  Florian Sénéchal (FRA) Cofidis + 12" 5  Olivier Pardini (BEL) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect + 13" 6  Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 13" 7  Jelle Vanendert (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 15" 8  Tony Martin (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 16" 9  Julien Vermote (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 16" 10  Maarten Wynants (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 18"

Stage 3

26 May 2017 — Beveren to Beveren, 13.4 km (8.3 mi), individual time trial (ITT)^[9]

Result of Stage 3[10] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Matthias Brändle (AUT) Trek–Segafredo 15' 40" 2  Tony Martin (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 14" 3  Wout van Aert (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 14" 4  Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Direct Énergie + 14" 5  Rémi Cavagna (FRA) Quick-Step Floors + 21" 6  Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) Aqua Blue Sport + 22" 7  Yves Lampaert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 30" 8  Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 33" 9  Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 34" 10  Simon Špilak (SLO) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 38"

General classification after Stage 3[10] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Wout van Aert (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan 9h 07' 57" 2  Tony Martin (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 10" 3  Matthias Brändle (AUT) Trek–Segafredo + 11" 4  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 19" 5  Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) Aqua Blue Sport + 24" 6  Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Direct Énergie + 25" 7  Rémi Cavagna (FRA) Quick-Step Floors + 32" 8  Olivier Pardini (BEL) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect + 35" 9  Julien Vermote (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 39" 10  Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 40"

Stage 4

27 May 2017 — Ans to Ans, 167.8 km (104.3 mi)^[11]

Result of Stage 4[12] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Maurits Lammertink (NED) Team Katusha–Alpecin 4h 09' 50" 2  Ruben Guerreiro (POR) Trek–Segafredo + 0" 3  Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 5" 4  Rémi Cavagna (FRA) Quick-Step Floors + 5" 5  Jan Bakelants (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 31" 6  Julien Vermote (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 31" 7  Oliver Naesen (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 31" 8  Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 31" 9  Tony Martin (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 31" 10  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 31"

General classification after Stage 4[12] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Rémi Cavagna (FRA) Quick-Step Floors 13h 18' 23" 2  Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 1" 3  Tony Martin (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 5" 4  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 14" 5  Julien Vermote (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 34" 6  Maurits Lammertink (NED) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 34" 7  Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 35" 8  Oliver Naesen (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 36" 9  Ruben Guerreiro (POR) Trek–Segafredo + 46" 10  Wout van Aert (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 52"

Stage 5

28 May 2017 — Tienen to Tongeren, 169.6 km (105.4 mi)^[13]

Result of Stage 5[1] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Jens Debusschere (BEL) Lotto–Soudal 3h 41' 25" 2  Coen Vermeltfoort (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 0" 3  Boy van Poppel (NED) Trek–Segafredo + 0" 4  Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 0" 5  Kenny Dehaes (BEL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 0" 6  Aaron Gate (NZL) Aqua Blue Sport + 0" 7  Bert Van Lerberghe (BEL) Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 0" 8  Jürgen Roelandts (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 0" 9  Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) Cofidis + 0" 10  Joeri Stallaert (BEL) Cibel–Cebon + 0"

Final general classification[1] Rank Rider Team Time 1  Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Belgium (national team) 16h 59' 42" 2  Rémi Cavagna (FRA) Quick-Step Floors + 6" 3  Tony Martin (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 11" 4  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 12" 5  Julien Vermote (BEL) Quick-Step Floors + 38" 6  Maurits Lammertink (NED) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 40" 7  Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 40" 8  Oliver Naesen (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 42" 9  Ruben Guerreiro (POR) Trek–Segafredo + 52" 10  Wout van Aert (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 58"

Classification leadership table

In the 2017 Tour of Belgium, three different jerseys were awarded. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. Time bonuses were awarded to the first three finishers on all stages: the stage winner won a ten-second bonus, with six and four seconds for the second and third riders respectively. Bonus seconds were also awarded to the first three riders at sprints in the "golden kilometre", where three intermediate sprint positions were held within the space of a kilometre. Three seconds were awarded for the winner of the sprint, two seconds for the rider in second and one second for the rider in third. The leader of the general classification received a red jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2017 Tour of Belgium, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.

Points for the points classification

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Points awarded	30	25	22	19	17	15	13	12	11	10

The second classification was the points classification. Riders were awarded points for finishing in the top ten in a stage. Unlike in the points classification in the Tour de France, the winners of all stages were awarded the same number of points. The leader of the points classification was awarded a blue jersey. There was also a combativity classification, where riders received points for finishing in the top five at intermediate sprint points during each stage, on a 10–8–6–4–2 scale. Bonus points were awarded if a breakaway had gained a sufficient advantage over the field, up to a maximum of 5 points. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists in a team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest cumulative time.

Stage	Winner	General classification (Dutch: Algemeenklassement)	Points classification (Dutch: Puntenklassement)	Combativity classification (Dutch: Strijdlustklassement)	Teams classification (Dutch: Ploegenklassement)
1[14]	Bryan Coquard	Bryan Coquard	Bryan Coquard	Kenneth Vanbilsen	Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise
2[15]	Mathieu van der Poel	Philippe Gilbert			Quick-Step Floors
3[10]	Matthias Brändle	Wout van Aert	Wout van Aert
4[12]	Maurits Lammertink	Rémi Cavagna	Tony Martin
5[1]	Jens Debusschere	Jens Keukeleire	Jens Debusschere
Final[1]		Jens Keukeleire	Jens Debusschere	Kenneth Vanbilsen	Quick-Step Floors

Final standings

Legend
	Denotes the leader of the General classification
	Denotes the leader of the Points classification
	Denotes the leader of the Combativity classification

General classification

Result^[1]

Rank	Rider	Team	Time
1	Jens Keukeleire (BEL)	Belgium (national team)	16h 59' 42"
2	Rémi Cavagna (FRA)	Quick-Step Floors	+ 6"
3	Tony Martin (GER)	Team Katusha–Alpecin	+ 11"
4	Philippe Gilbert (BEL)	Quick-Step Floors	+ 12"
5	Julien Vermote (BEL)	Quick-Step Floors	+ 38"
6	Maurits Lammertink (NED)	Team Katusha–Alpecin	+ 40"
7	Tiesj Benoot (BEL)	Lotto–Soudal	+ 40"
8	Oliver Naesen (BEL)	Belgium (national team)	+ 42"
9	Ruben Guerreiro (POR)	Trek–Segafredo	+ 52"
10	Wout van Aert (BEL)	Vérandas Willems–Crelan	+ 58"

Points classification

Result^[1]

Rank	Rider	Team	Points
1	Jens Debusschere (BEL)	Lotto–Soudal	55
2	Tony Martin (GER)	Team Katusha–Alpecin	41
3	Wout van Aert (BEL)	Vérandas Willems–Crelan	38
4	Philippe Gilbert (BEL)	Quick-Step Floors	35
5	Oliver Naesen (BEL)	Belgium (national team)	32
6	Baptiste Planckaert (BEL)	Team Katusha–Alpecin	32
7	Rémi Cavagna (FRA)	Quick-Step Floors	31
8	Maurits Lammertink (NED)	Team Katusha–Alpecin	30
9	Bryan Coquard (FRA)	Direct Énergie	30
10	Jens Keukeleire (BEL)	Belgium (national team)	29

Combativity classification

Result^[1]

Rank	Rider	Team	Points
1	Kenneth Vanbilsen (BEL)	Cofidis	50
2	Brian van Goethem (NED)	Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij	36
3	Philipp Walsleben (GER)	Beobank–Corendon	24
4	Benjamin Declercq (BEL)	Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise	23
5	Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN)	Aqua Blue Sport	21
6	Jens Keukeleire (BEL)	Belgium (national team)	21
7	Rob Leemans (BEL)	Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice	19
8	Philippe Gilbert (BEL)	Quick-Step Floors	18
9	Ludwig De Winter (BEL)	WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect	17
10	Taco van der Hoorn (NED)	Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij	17

Teams classification

Result^[1]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Quick-Step Floors	51h 00' 13"
2	Belgium (national team)	+ 1' 02"
3	Team Katusha–Alpecin	+ 1' 17"
4	Aqua Blue Sport	+ 3' 55"
5	Cibel–Cebon	+ 5' 39"
6	Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij	+ 8' 09"
7	WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect	+ 9' 31"
8	Trek–Segafredo	+ 10' 30"
9	Wanty–Groupe Gobert	+ 10' 43"
10	Lotto–Soudal	+ 11' 46"

References

1. "Resultaten en mededelingen organisatie / Résultats et communique de l'organisation 5" [Results and communications from the organisation 5] (PDF). ChronoRace.be (in Dutch and French). ChronoRace - Electronic Timing SPRL. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
2. "Giro d'Italia: Quick-Step Floors target GC and sprints with Jungels and Gaviria". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017. Quick-Step Floors for the 2017 Giro d'Italia: Eros Capecchi (Ita), Laurens De Plus (Bel), Dries Devenyns (Bel), Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Col), Bob Jungels (Lux), Iljo Keisse (Bel), Davide Martinelli (Ita), Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) and Pieter Serry (Bel).
3. "Keukeleire eindwinnaar van Baloise Belgium Tour dankzij Gouden Kilometer" [Keukeleire, winner of Baloise Belgium Tour thanks to Golden Kilometer]. Sporza (in Dutch). Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie. 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
4. "Vijf WorldTour-teams in 87e editie Baloise Belgium Tour" [Five WorldTour teams in 87th edition of Baloise Belgium Tour]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Mediahuis. Belga. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
5. "Lochristi to Knokke-Heist". Tour of Belgium. Sport.be. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
6. "Coquard wins crash-marred opening sprint at Belgium Tour". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
7. "Knokke-Heist to Moorslede". Tour of Belgium. Sport.be. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
8. "Van der Poel best on stage 2 in Baloise Belgium Tour". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
9. "Beveren to Beveren". Tour of Belgium. Sport.be. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
10. "Resultaten en mededelingen organisatie / Résultats et communique de l'organisation 3" [Results and communications from the organisation 3] (PDF). ChronoRace.be (in Dutch and French). ChronoRace - Electronic Timing SPRL. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
11. "Ans to Ans". Tour of Belgium. Sport.be. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
12. "Resultaten en mededelingen organisatie / Résultats et communique de l'organisation 4" [Results and communications from the organisation 4] (PDF). ChronoRace.be (in Dutch and French). ChronoRace - Electronic Timing SPRL. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
13. "Tienen to Tongeren". Tour of Belgium. Sport.be. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
14. "Resultaten en mededelingen organisatie / Résultats et communique de l'organisation 1" [Results and communications from the organisation 1] (PDF). ChronoRace.be (in Dutch and French). ChronoRace - Electronic Timing SPRL. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
15. "Resultaten en mededelingen organisatie / Résultats et communique de l'organisation 2" [Results and communications from the organisation 2] (PDF). ChronoRace.be (in Dutch and French). ChronoRace - Electronic Timing SPRL. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.

External links

• Official website