The most important facts in brief
- Date: 8 to 13 October
- Distance: ~720 kilometres
- Start: Gennep, Target: Arnhem
- Profile: 6 stages: 1 time trial, 4 flat stages, 1 hilly stage
- UCI category: Women's World Tour
- Premiere: 1998 (26th edition)
The Simac Ladies Tour 2024 spans six stages and is the last World Tour highlight of the professional women's season on European soil. The record winner of the tour is Marianne Vos, who won the race four times in a row between 2009 and 2012. Last year, the Belgian Lotte Kopecky won the Tour of Holland 2023. Four German riders have also won the Tour: Petra Rossner won in 2001, Tanja Hennes in 2005, Charlotte Becker in 2008 and most recently it was Lisa Brennauer in 2015 who won the stage race.
The route of the Simac Ladies Tour 2024 at a glance
The Simac Ladies Tour 2024 will take place over a total of six stages, four of which are flat stages and bunch sprints are the most likely scenario for the outcome of the race - if the notorious wind in the Netherlands doesn't throw a spanner in the works. Stage 1 also leads over flat terrain, but will be held in the form of an individual time trial. Due to the flat profile and many long straights, no large gaps are to be expected here. Instead, the final stage 6 could be decisive in the battle for overall victory. Due to the many short climbs, a classics specialist could break away and celebrate the overall victory.
Stage 1 | Tuesday, 8 October | Gennep - Gennep | 10.1 kilometres - 40 metres elevation gain | Individual time trial
After a short 2.4 kilometre prologue kicked off the Simac Ladies Tour last year, the individual time trial will be extended this year. The riders have to complete a total of 10 kilometres against the clock; the course is almost completely flat and includes long straights. It is therefore a real high-speed course.
Stage 2 | Wednesday, 9 October | Coevorden - Assen | 154.8 kilometres - 314 vertical metres
Stage 2 takes the field of riders from Coevorden via Emmen to Assen. Over 150 kilometres have to be covered, with a mostly flat elevation profile. After 40 kilometres there is a short ramp where riders could try to escape. However, this is unlikely to be particularly promising: Due to the few metres of elevation gain, a bunch sprint is very likely.
Stage 3 | Thursday, 10 October | Zeewolde - Zeewolde | 148.4 kilometres - 126 vertical metres
The 3rd stage is also flat as a plate. Once again, the race will take the form of a large circuit of around 150 kilometres, starting and finishing in Zeewolde not far from Amsterdam. A bunch sprint is particularly likely here too - if the wind from the Markermeer doesn't put a spanner in the works.
Stage 4 | Friday, 11 October | Ede - Ede | 118.2 kilometres - 467 vertical metres
The 4th stage of the Simac Ladies Tour 2024 also takes the form of a circuit. It starts and finishes in Ede and is 40 kilometres long. The circuit has to be ridden a total of three times. Once again, the sprinters could strike on the stage, but due to several small ramps, explosive classics riders could also try their luck on stage 4.
Stage 5 | Saturday, 12 October | Doetinchem - Doetinchem | 140.0 kilometres - 364 vertical metres
The 5th stage of the Simac Ladies Tour is also organised in the form of a circuit. The start and finish are in Doetinchem. There are hilly sequences on the route between kilometres 85 and 100, so breakaway riders are likely to try their luck there. A bunch sprint is also the most likely scenario for this stage.
Stage 6 | Sunday, 13 October | Arnhem - Arnhem | 145.8 kilometres - 1159 vertical metres
The start and finish of the 6th and final stage of the Simac Ladies Tour are in Arnhem. A larger circuit is ridden twice before a local course through the city has to be conquered seven times. There are hardly any flat sections, with short, crisp climbs and then descents again and again. It is not unlikely that a rider will break away during the stage and win the race.
Simac Ladies Tour 2024: TV broadcast and live stream
In Germany, with the exception of the penultimate stage, the Simac Ladies Tour 2024 will be televised on Eurosport 2 will be shown. The finals of all stages will also be shown on the paid streaming service Discovery Plus offered.
Broadcast times of the Simac Ladies Tour on Eurosport 2*
- Tuesday, 8 October, 1st stage: 14:00 - 15:30
- Wednesday, 9 October, 2nd stage: 14:45 - 16:15
- Thursday, 10 October, 3rd stage: 14:00 - 15:30
- Friday, 11.10, 4th stage: 14:45 - 16:15
- Saturday, 12 October, stage 5: not live on TV
- Sunday, 13 October, stage 6: 15:45 - 17:15
* Transmission times may change
