Favorites stage 1 Renewi Tour 2024 | Last year a strike, this year mostly a spectacle?!
Cycling
On Wednesday, the first stage of the Renewi Tour 2024 kicks off in Riemst, with the race being held mainly on Belgian territory this year. Day one is likely to be a day for the fast men, although this is not entirely certain. IDLProCycling.com walks you through it.
Course stage 1 Renewi Tour 2024
The Renewi Tour begins with a 163.6-kilometer stage between Riemst and Bilzen, which includes a total of eight categorized climbs. These climbs are grouped in pairs or threes within a long local circuit of about sixty kilometers.
Last year, the peloton went on strike due to safety concerns during the stage between Riemst and Bilzen, but ultimately the race did continue as normal, with a real battle for the win. Matej Mohoric took the victory that time, while Caleb Ewan won this stage in 2021. In both cases, the sprint was contested by a medium-sized peloton.
This time, the organization will want to avoid such incidents in the stage near the Dutch border. The finish is on a slightly uphill stretch in Bilzen, following the last eight hundred meters, which are on a straight road.
Climbs
6.0 km: Cote de Hallembaye (1.0 km at 4.9%)
17.5 km: Cote sur le Coteaux (1.6 km at 4.2%)
57.0 km: Slingerberg (1 km at 4.9%)
65.5 km: Cote de Hallembaye (1.0 km at 4.9%)
77.0 km: Cote sur le Coteaux (1.6 km at 4.2%)
117.0 km: Slingerberg (1 km at 4.9%)
125.5 km: Cote de Hallembaye (1.0 km at 4.9%)
137.0 km: Cote sur le Coteaux (1.6 km at 4.2%)
Times
Start: 11:35 AM locally / 5:35 AM EST
Finish: 3:30 PM locally / 9:30 AM EST
Weather stage 1 Renewi Tour 2024
It's going to be nice and warm in the Netherlands and Belgium this week, which the peloton will also get to experience. On Wednesday, the temperature will be 29 degrees Celsius, and the wind doesn’t seem like it will play a significant role.
Favorites stage 1 Renewi Tour 2024
It's a tricky course, and in theory, there are opportunities for attackers, but there are so many sprinters in this Renewi Tour that avoiding a sprint finish seems very difficult. Especially considering the fact that many of these sprinters can also handle the tougher terrain, as they have already shown in major classics and three-week stage races.
So, those who want to see Mathieu van der Poel attack might have to wait until Sunday. Jasper Philipsen, who is making his return to the Renewi Tour just like the Dutchman, is likely the chosen man for Alpecin-Deceuninck. The Belgian will have to compete against quite a few other riders, including compatriots Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny), who are major contenders.
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) recently showed in Poland and Germany that they are in good form. For Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla) and Fernando Gaviria (Movistar), the situation is a bit more uncertain as they are also returning to competition. For Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), Fabio Jakobsen (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Sam Welsford (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), the question is whether they will survive the climbs.
On a good day, riders like Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Max Kanter (Astana), Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) and Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE-Team Emirates) should still be able to handle this stage as riders with a decent sprint. And what about attacking types like last year’s winner, Matej Mohoric or, say, Jasper Stuyven of Lidl-Trek?
Who are the favorites for stage 1 Renewi Tour 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com?
Top favorites: Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Outsiders: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty)
Long shots: Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla), Fernando Gaviria (Movistar), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) and Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE-Team Emirates)
Poll
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024