A BinckBank Tour as an introduction to the stones
Typically, the BinckBank Tour takes place in August, months after the Belgian spring classics. However, with the changes in the calendar that the global Covid-19 crisis has left us, this reduced version of the race, with only 5 stages, will give us a glimpse of who can stand out in the cobblestone season, which is still to start when we are almost in October.
If you look at the route, it has little secret: two flat stages that will surely end in a bunch sprint, an individual time trial, and two stages with a classic profile, especially the last one, with a circuit that includes up to 4 climbs to the Kappelmuur in Geraardsbergen.
Regarding the startlist, there are still many participants missing, but it is already worth noting the high presence of local, Belgian and Dutch riders, and pavé specialists: Oliver Naesen (800), Philippe Gilbert (800), Zdeněk Štybar (600), Sep Vanmarcke (400), John Degenkolb (600) or Matthieu Van Der Poel (400) are part of this group. It is also worth noting the presence of the double stage winner in the 2020 Tour de France Søren Kragh Andersen (400).
On the other hand, many sprinters have also come to the call. They stand out Pascal Ackermann (1000), Marc Sarreau (600), Mike Teunissen (600), Alberto Dainese (400), Jasper Philipsen (800), Mads Pedersen (400) and Danny Van Poppel (600).
Of course, we will have to be attentive to the startlist, as there are still many riders missing.