The Benelux Tour (previously known as the Eneco Tour and the BinckBank Tour) is a road bicycle racing stage-race that is part of the UCI World Tour. The race was established in 2005 and was originally known as the Eneco Tour, named after the original sponsor. In 2017, the online discount broker BinckBank took over as the title sponsor, with the name of the race changing accordingly.[1] In 2021, with the absence of a title sponsor, the race was known again as the Benelux Tour.[2] The race was not held in 2022 due to conflicts with the racing calendar.[3] In 2023, waste management company Renewi joined as a sponsor and renamed the race once again, this time to the Renewi Tour.[4]

Benelux Tour
2023 logo
Race details
DateAugust
RegionBenelux
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI World Tour
TypeStage-race
Race directorJan Nys, Golazo
Web sitewww.beneluxtour.eu/nl/ Edit this at Wikidata
History
First edition2005 (2005)
Editions18 (as of 2023)
First winner Bobby Julich (USA)
Most wins Tim Wellens (BEL) (3)
Most recent Tim Wellens (BEL)

History

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The Tour of the Netherlands began on 6 May 1948, but only became an annual event in 1975. From about 2000 it was known as the Eneco Tour. The start of the UCI's ProTour in 2005 saw the faltering tour reorganised and reinvigorated. From 2017 to 2020, the race was known as the BinckBank Tour.[1]

The Benelux Tour is a continuation of the faltering Tour of the Netherlands, which UCI president Hein Verbruggen deemed necessary for marketing reasons.[5] The Dutch Tour organisation got a better sponsor (ENECO Energie). But because the race was not difficult enough, it could not be accepted into the new ProTour. At that point the organisation sought help from the organisation of the Tour of Belgium and the Tour de Luxembourg. They envisaged a Tour of the Benelux that would replace the three. This led to the Tour of Belgium as a co-organiser. The Tours of Belgium and Luxembourg however continued as such. The co-organisation or incorporation of the Tour de Luxembourg did not materialize, and since its inception the Benelux Tour has not crossed into Luxembourgish territory yet.

Jerseys

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The jersey colors for the classification leaders have changed several times over the years, mostly to reflect sponsor changes.

Year(s) General Points Mountains Young Combativity
2005[6]         No classification
2006   No classification
2007 No jersey No classification
2008    
2009 No classification
2010–2011  
2012–2014 No classification  
2015–2016  
2017      
2018  
2019–2020  
2021    
2023–2024  

Winners

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General classification

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The winners since 2005 have been:[7][8]

Points classification

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The winners of the points classification were:[8]

Mountains classification

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There have only been mountains classifications in 2005, 2007 and 2008. The winners were:[8]

Young rider classification

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The young rider classification is open for cyclists under 25. The winners of the young rider classification were:[8]

Combativity classification

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The winners of the combativity classification were:

Team classification

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Most stage wins

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Last updated after Stage 5 of the 2024 Renewi Tour:

Cyclist # Stages Stages
1   Tom Boonen (BEL) 7 2006: Stages 1 (Hoogeveen, Netherlands), 3 (Westmalle, Belgium) and 5 (Balen, Belgium)
2008: Stages 1 (Roermond, Netherlands) and 4 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2009: Stage 3 (Hasselt, Belgium)
2015: Stage 3 (Ardooie, Belgium)
  André Greipel (GER) 7 2008: Stage 2 (Nieuwegein, Netherlands)
2010: Stages 2 (Ardooie, Belgium) and 6 (Heers, Belgium)
2011: Stages 1 (Sint Willebrord, Netherlands), 2 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2013: Stage 4 (Vlijmen, Netherlands)
2015: Stage 2 (Breda, Netherlands)
3   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) 5 2008: Stage 6 (Brussels, Belgium)
2009: Stages 6 (Roermond, Netherlands) and 7 (Amersfoort, Netherlands) (ITT)
2011: Stage 6 (Sittard, Netherlands)
2016: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
4   Peter Sagan (SVK) 4 2016: Stages 3 (Ardooie, Belgium) and 4 (Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium)
2017: Stages 1 (Venray, Netherlands) and 3 (Ardooie, Belgium)
  Tim Wellens (BEL) 4 2014: Stage 6 (Aywaille, Belgium)
2015: Stage 6 (Houffalize, Belgium)
2017: Stage 6 (Houffalize, Belgium)
2019: Stage 4 (Houffalize, Belgium)
6   Tyler Farrar (USA) 3 2009: Stages 1 (Ardooie, Belgium), 2 (Brussels, Belgium) and 4 (Libramont, Belgium)
  Zdeněk Štybar (CZE) 3 2013: Stages 3 (Brouwersdam, Netherlands) and 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
2014: Stage 2 (Heusden, Netherlands)
  Sam Bennett (IRL) 3 2019: Stage 1 (Hulst, Netherlands) and Stage 2 (Ardooie, Belgium) and Stage 3 (Aalter, Belgium)
  Jasper Philipsen (BEL) 3 2020: Stage 1 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2023: Stage 1 (Ardooie, Belgium)
2024: Stage 4 (Aalter, Belgium)
10   Alessandro Ballan (ITA) 2 2005: Stage 5 (Verviers, Belgium)
2012: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
  Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) 2 2009: Prologue (Rotterdam, Netherlands) (ITT)
2013: Stage 5 (Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands) (ITT)
  Philippe Gilbert (BEL) 2 2006: Stage 7 (Ans, Belgium)
2011: Stage 3 (Andenne, Belgium)
  Marcel Kittel (GER) 2 2012: Stages 1 (Middelburg, Netherlands) and 4 (Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands)
  Robbie McEwen (AUS) 2 2007: Stage 3 (Putte, Belgium)
2010: Stage 1 (Rhenen, Netherlands)
  Tim Merlier (BEL) 2 2021: Stages 1 (Dokkum, Netherlands) and 4 (Ardooie, Belgium)
  Jonathan Milan (ITA) 2 2024: Stages 1 (Bilzen, Belgium) and 3 (Ardooie, Belgium)
  Matej Mohorič (SLO) 2 2021: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
2023: Stage 5 (Bilzen, Belgium)
  Manuel Quinziato (ITA) 2 2006: Stage 3 (Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands)
2015: Stage 7 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
  Svein Tuft (CAN) 2 2010: Prologue (Steenwijk, Netherlands) (ITT)
2012: Stage 6 (Ardooie, Belgium) (ITT)
  Max van Heeswijk (NED) 2 2005: Stages 1 (Mierlo, Netherlands) and 5 (Hasselt, Belgium)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Binck Bank nieuwe sponsor Eneco Tour" [Binck Bank is the new sponsor of the Eneco Tour]. Wielerflits (in Dutch). 5 April 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Van der Poel, Dumoulin to race Benelux Tour". CyclingNews. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Benelux Tour rescheduled to 2023". renewitour.com. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Benelux Tour becomes Renewi Tour, the most sustainable cycling event on the calendar". renewitour.com. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ Graat, John (August 3, 2005). Fantastische' Pro Tour zegen voor profronde. Trouw (Dutch newspaper), p. 13.
  6. ^ "Eneco Tour". Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  7. ^ "Eneco-Tour du Benelux (Bel & Hol) - Cat. Pro-Tour" (in French). Memoire du Cyclisme. 2010-10-24. Archived from the original on 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  8. ^ a b c d "Benelux Tour". Cycling archives. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
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