Preview Baloise Belgium Tour 2024 | No Van der Poel caliber, but big names from the sprinter pool!
CyclingTuesday, 11 June 2024 at 17:25
The Tour de France and national championships are approaching, which means that the preparatory races are quickly following each other. In the second week of June, among others, the Tour of Switzerland, Tour of Slovenia, and Baloise Belgium Tour are held. In this article, IDLProCycling.com looks ahead to the latter race, where a successor to Mathieu van der Poel is being sought.
The Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck has chosen not to compete in a preparatory race for the Tour de France this year and will therefore not be seen in this Baloise Belgium Tour. Jasper Philipsen, his co-leader at the Belgian team, will make his appearance in his own country from the altitude training camp in La Plagne.
The Belgian will encounter many fellow sprinters in this Baloise Belgium Tour, where three out of the five stages are expected to end in a sprint. The tried-and-tested formula of this stage race includes one time trial, on the opening day, and the queen stage in the hills around Durbuy. Additionally, there is the Golden Kilometer, which can influence the overall classification in each stage.
Latest winners Baloise Belgium Tour
2023 Mathieu van der Poel
2022 Mauro Schmid
2021 Remco Evenepoel
2020 Not ridden
2019 Remco Evenepoel
2018Jens Keukeleire
2017 Jens Keukeleire
2016 Dries Devenyns
2015 Greg Van Avermaet
2014 Tony Martin
2022 Mauro Schmid
2021 Remco Evenepoel
2020 Not ridden
2019 Remco Evenepoel
2018Jens Keukeleire
2017 Jens Keukeleire
2016 Dries Devenyns
2015 Greg Van Avermaet
2014 Tony Martin
Baloise Belgium Tour 2024: Course, climbs, favorites day wins and times
Stage 1, Wednesday, June 12: Beringen - Beringen (12 km, time trial)
The Baloise Belgium Tour kicks off in Belgian Limburg, in Beringen. There, they start with an individual time trial of twelve kilometers, which will immediately be crucial for the overall classification in the 2.Pro race. We can't call it technical, so it will mainly be a matter of pedaling hard.
Climbs
No.
No.
Favorites
Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek)
Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty)
Rémi Cavagna (Movistar)
Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek)
Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty)
Rémi Cavagna (Movistar)
Times
Start: 2 p.m. (first rider)
Finish: 5:11 p.m. (last rider)
Start: 2 p.m. (first rider)
Finish: 5:11 p.m. (last rider)
Stage 2, Thursday, June 13: Merelbeke - Knokke-Heist (180.4 km)
On day two, we head to the Belgian coast, towards the finish in the seaside resort of Knokke-Heist. Here, for several years now, we have arrived at a well-known short, sloping section by the sea, where Fabio Jakobsen (2023), Jasper Philipsen (2022), Jan-Willem van Schip (2019), and André Greipel (2018) have previously won.
Climbs
No.
No.
Favorites
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 1 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Start: 1 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Stage 3, Friday, June 14: Turnhout - Scherpenheuvel-Zichem (188.3 km)
In the third stage, we encounter the first categorized obstacles of this Baloise Belgium Tour, but between Turnhout and Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, we normally expect a sprint finish. Last season, Jasper Philipsen won this stage.
Climbs
111.7 km: Het Rot (1.8 km a 2.2%)
118.6 km: Roeselberg (1.3 km a 4.0%)
126.3 km: Kerkstraat (0.8 km a 4.2%)
160.7 km: Het Rot (1.8 km a 2.2%)
167.6 km: Roeselberg (1.3 km a 4.0%)
175.3 km: Kerkstraat (0.8 km a 4.2%)
111.7 km: Het Rot (1.8 km a 2.2%)
118.6 km: Roeselberg (1.3 km a 4.0%)
126.3 km: Kerkstraat (0.8 km a 4.2%)
160.7 km: Het Rot (1.8 km a 2.2%)
167.6 km: Roeselberg (1.3 km a 4.0%)
175.3 km: Kerkstraat (0.8 km a 4.2%)
Favorites
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Fabio Jakobsen (dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Fabio Jakobsen (dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Times
Start: 12:40 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Start: 12:40 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Stage 4, Saturday, June 15: Durbuy - Durbuy (177.0 km)
Last year, the Ardennes tourist attraction Durbuy hosted the queen stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour for the first time, and it left us wanting more. Mathieu van der Poel put on an impressive solo performance at the time, and this season, with this course, we can prepare ourselves for another beautiful battle in the Ardennes.
Climbs
0.1 km: Champs des Hêtres (2.1 km at 2.7%)
3.6 km: Petitesomme (2.2 km at 5.8%)
19.0 km: Côte de Hermanne (2.2 km at 5.8%)
31.9 km: Mur de Durbuy (1.2 km at 6.2%)
0.1 km: Champs des Hêtres (2.1 km at 2.7%)
3.6 km: Petitesomme (2.2 km at 5.8%)
19.0 km: Côte de Hermanne (2.2 km at 5.8%)
31.9 km: Mur de Durbuy (1.2 km at 6.2%)
(loop is driven four times)
Favorites
Benoit Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R)
Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)
Benoit Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R)
Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 12:55 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Start: 12:55 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Stage 5, Sunday, June 16: Brussels - Brussels (185.9 km)
The Baloise Belgium Tour concludes - just like last season - in the Belgian capital Brussels. There, it's usually a sprint finish, allowing the fast men to test their sprinting legs once again towards the upcoming goals.
Climbs
No.
No.
Favorites
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty)
Times
Start: 1:09 p.m.
Finish: 5:01 p.m.
Start: 1:09 p.m.
Finish: 5:01 p.m.
Favorites final classification Baloise Belgium Tour 2024
Please note that the participant list has not yet been officially confirmed, so this section is still subject to change.
With no rider of Mathieu van der Poel's caliber at the start, the Baloise Belgium Tour could shape up to be an open edition. The race offers some exciting stages with a time trial and a hilly stage around Durbuy, and with the added excitement of the Golden Kilometer, which can earn valuable seconds.
This plays into the hands of someone like Jasper Stuyven, who represented Lidl-Trek in the Giro and still has the Baloise Belgium Tour and the National Championships in June as important targets. With his team, he can make a difference in the Golden Kilometer, but Stuyven is also proficient in the Durbuy stage and has a solid time trial capability. The same applies to Mathias Vacek and Daan Hoole, two other contenders.
Certainly, that twelve-kilometer trial in Beringen will influence the standings. Riders like Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty), Rémi Cavagna (Movistar), Mick van Dijke (Visma | Lease a Bike), and Alec Segaert (Lotto-Dstny) could gain time here on the punchier types and perhaps take a more defensive approach in the Durbuy stage. Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X) showed exactly how to do that last year and returns this year, with Jonas Abrahamsen and Rasmus Tiller by his side. Kasper Asgreen of Soudal Quick-Step is another Scandinavian who can go far.
On the other hand, there are Benoit Cosnefroy and Pierre Gautherat from Decathlon AG2R and the Alpecin-Deceuninck duo Quinten Hermans and Gianni Vermeersch. Movistar, alongside Cavagna, fields someone like Alex Aranburu, whose fast legs uphill should not be underestimated. All-rounders like Stuyven, but also Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Wanty), Rhiley Sheehan (Israel-Premier Tech), Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies), Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto-Dstny), and Per Strand Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike) could also grab some opportunities here and there. And finally: what can Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) and Hartthijs de Vries from TDT-Unibet achieve?
According to IDLProCycling.com, who are the favorites for the final classification of the 2024 Baloise Belgium Tour?
Top favorites: Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) and Benoit Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R)
Outsiders: Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty), Mick van Dijke (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Alec Segaert (Lotto-Dstny)
Long shots: Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek), Quinten Hermans, Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Per Strand Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike), Rémi Cavagna (Movistar), Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Wanty) and Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto-Dstny)
Outsiders: Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty), Mick van Dijke (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Alec Segaert (Lotto-Dstny)
Long shots: Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek), Quinten Hermans, Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Per Strand Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike), Rémi Cavagna (Movistar), Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Wanty) and Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto-Dstny)
TV Baloise Belgium Tour 2024
You can follow the Baloise Belgium Tour live this week on Sporza (on VRT1) and Eurosport, or the online channels Eurosport.nl/Discovery+. This will be daily from around 3pm/15am.
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Latest Comments
- Why continue to give this bully and liar a platform. Both he and Bruyneel should be persona non grata in the cycling world.Aodh25-04-2025
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025