Benelux Tour 2023: Stages, profiles, favourites, TV coverage & live stream

For many years, the race, which was held for the first time in 2005, comprised seven stages. This year, however, there are only five. The race was cancelled in 2022. The tour enjoys World Tour status. An overcrowded race calendar and the lack of a commitment from the Dutch police to provide the motorbike squadron required for road safety reasons were the reasons given by officials for this step.

Two Germans have been able to add their names to the list of winners: Stefan Schumacher (2006) and Tony Martin (2010). Record winners with two victories each are Jose Ivan Gutierrez (2007, 2008), Edvald Boasson Hagen (2009, 2011) and Tim Wellens (2014, 2015).

The favourites of the Benelux Tour

The latter, like his team-mate Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) will be among the front runners again this year. In Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious), who won in 2018, is another candidate for overall victory. But Alberto Bettiol (EF Education EasyPost), Kasper Asgreen (Soudal - Quick Step), Jasper Stuyen, Thibau Nys (Lidl Trek) or Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) are on the start list and have the potential to win.

The list of sprinters fighting for stage wins on the flat stages is just as long. It is headed by four-time Tour de France stage winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). With Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) is joined by the winner of the stage on the Champs-Elysees, Tim Merlier (Soudal - Quick Step), two-time stage winner at the Tour of Poland, and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) complete the list of Belgian top sprinters. The two Dutchmen Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) and Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco-AlUla) also want to have their say. Cees Bol (Astana Qazaqstan Team) and Sam Welsford (Team DSM).

This is the route of the Benelux Tour 2023 - all stages at a glance

The route covers a total of almost 735 kilometres. However, this year it is almost only a Be Tour. Apart from the individual time trial in the Netherlands, which is also held close to the border, the tour only passes through Belgium.

Stage 1 | Wednesday, 23 August | Blankenberge - Ardooie | 182.9 kilometres

The Benelux Tour 2023 begins on the Belgian North Sea coast in Blankenberge. After the first 60 kilometres are completely flat and barely leave the level just above sea level, it then becomes slightly undulating. Nevertheless, the many small bumps in the profile should not prevent a bunch sprint, especially as the list of sprinters who will allow their teams to close any gaps is long.

Stage 2 | Thursday, 24 August | Sluis - Sluis | 13.6 kilometres (individual time trial)

In Sluis in the Netherlands, right on the border with Belgium, the contenders for overall victory will be fighting for seconds. As the profile is flat as a plate and the course is only 13.6 kilometres long, things will be tight. Anyone who loses half a minute or more here is likely to have lost all chances of victory.

Leading the way will be 19-year-old youngster Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) will be keen to prove that his bronze medal in the elite world championship time trial in Glasgow recently was just the beginning. With last year's world champion Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma), Asgreen or Yves Lampaert (Soudal - Quick Step), prologue winner at the 2022 Tour, there are certainly competitors at the start who can hold their own.

Stage 3 | Friday, 25 August | Aalter - Geraardsbergen | 171.2 kilometres

Back in Belgium, stage 3 starts in Aalter, west of Ghent. After the first 70 kilometres are flat again, it gets exciting afterwards. And steep. Because the finish of the stage is in Geraadsbergen. And where should a stage end there if not at the iconic Muur? 475 metres long, up to 20 percent steep, on average about half of it. The Muur has to be conquered three times in total on this day. In addition, there are other notable climbs such as the Leberg or the Bosberg, which are also ridden in the Tour of Flanders.

Stage 4 | Saturday, 26 August | Beringen - Peer | 179.4 kilometres

After the day in Flanders, the tour moves to the Limburg region in the east of Belgium. The start is in Beringen, the finish is in Peer. The riders spend around half of the day on a circuit that has to be completed four and a half times. Only 420 metres of elevation gain are covered on the almost 180 kilometres, which is why the sprinters should once again have their chance.

Stage 5 | Sunday, 27 August | Riemst - Bilzen | 187.3 kilometres

The overall victory will be decided between Riemst and Bilzen. The Benelux Tour remains in the Limburg region, but repeatedly makes small detours towards Liège. The whole day is completed on slightly different laps, passing the finish line in Bilzen three times before it really counts at the end. From kilometre 0, it's all up and down, with a good 2000 metres of elevation gain on the agenda.

Benelux Tour 2023 TV broadcast and live stream

The Benelux Tour 2023 will be broadcast on Eurosport 1 on TV. The channel will show stage 1 live from 3pm. Stages 2 and 3 can be seen live from 3.15 pm, stage 4 from 4.15 pm. There will only be a one-hour summary of stage 5 from 6.00 pm.

Discovery+ and Eurosport will offer a daily live stream. The first four stages will be broadcast from 15:00 to 17:30, the last stage from 13:30 to 16:00.