The 2018 Tour of Belgium, known as the 2018 Baloise Belgium Tour for sponsorship purposes, was the 88th edition of the Tour of Belgium cycling stage race. It took place from 23 to 27 May 2018 in Belgium, as part of the 2018 UCI Europe Tour; it was categorised as a 2.HC race. Jens Keukeleire (Lotto–Soudal) successfully defended his title, winning the race for a second consecutive year.

2018 Tour of Belgium
2018 UCI Europe Tour
Race details
Dates23–27 May
Stages5
Distance655.5 km (407.3 mi)
Winning time14h 43' 37"
Results
Winner  Jens Keukeleire (BEL) (Lotto–Soudal)
  Second  Jelle Vanendert (BEL) (Lotto–Soudal)
  Third  Dion Smith (NZ) (Wanty–Groupe Gobert)

Points  André Greipel (GER) (Lotto–Soudal)
Combativity  Thomas Sprengers (BEL) (Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise)
← 2017
2019 →

Teams

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20 teams were selected to take part in Tour of Belgium.[1] Three of these were UCI WorldTeams, with eleven UCI Professional Continental teams, five UCI Continental teams and a team representing the Belgium national team.

UCI WorldTeams

UCI Professional Continental teams

UCI Continental teams

National teams

Schedule

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Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 23 May Buggenhout to Buggenhout 178.8 km (111.1 mi)   Flat stage   André Greipel (GER)
2 24 May Lochristi to Knokke-Heist 150.4 km (93.5 mi)   Flat stage   André Greipel (GER)
3 25 May Bornem to Bornem 10.6 km (6.6 mi)   Individual time trial   Christophe Laporte (FRA)
4 26 May Wanze to Wanze 147.3 km (91.5 mi)   Intermediate stage   Jelle Vanendert (BEL)
5 27 May Landen to Tongeren 168.4 km (104.6 mi)   Flat stage   Bryan Coquard (FRA)
Total 655.5 km (407.3 mi)

Stages

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Stage 1

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23 May 2018 — Buggenhout to Buggenhout, 178.8 km (111.1 mi)
Result of Stage 1
Rank Rider Team Time
1   André Greipel (GER) Lotto–Soudal 3h 54' 29"
2   Riccardo Minali (ITA) Astana + 0"
3   Tim Merlier (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 0"
4   Timothy Dupont (BEL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 0"
5   Bryan Coquard (FRA) Vital Concept + 0"
6   Christophe Laporte (FRA) Cofidis + 0"
7   Wouter Wippert (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 0"
8   Jenthe Biermans (BEL) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 0"
9   Jelle Mannaerts (BEL) Tarteletto–Isorex + 0"
10   Bram Welten (NED) Fortuneo–Samsic + 0"
General classification after Stage 1
Rank Rider Team Time
1   André Greipel (GER)    Lotto–Soudal 3h 54' 19"
2   Riccardo Minali (ITA) Astana + 4"
3   Michael Boroš (CZE) Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice + 5"
4   Aimé De Gendt (BEL) Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 5"
5   Tim Merlier (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 6"
6   Conor Dunne (IRL) Aqua Blue Sport + 6"
7   Kenny Molly (BEL) Belgium (national team) + 8"
8   Dieter Bouvry (BEL) Cibel–Cebon + 8"
9   Timothy Dupont (BEL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 10"
10   Bryan Coquard (FRA) Vital Concept + 10"

Stage 2

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24 May 2018 — Lochristi to Knokke-Heist, 162.1 km (100.7 mi)
Result of Stage 2
Rank Rider Team Time
1   André Greipel (GER)   Lotto–Soudal 3h 15' 21"
2   Wouter Wippert (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 0"
3   Tim Merlier (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 0"
4   Timothy Dupont (BEL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 0"
5   Bryan Coquard (FRA) Vital Concept + 0"
6   Roy Jans (BEL) Cibel–Cebon + 0"
7   Christophe Noppe (BEL) Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 0"
8   Bram Welten (NED) Fortuneo–Samsic + 0"
9   Sean De Bie (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 0"
10   Riccardo Minali (ITA)   Astana + 0"
General classification after Stage 2
Rank Rider Team Time
1   André Greipel (GER)    Lotto–Soudal 7h 09' 30"
2   Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) Aqua Blue Sport + 11"
3   Tim Merlier (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 12"
4   Wouter Wippert (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 14"
5   Riccardo Minali (ITA) Astana + 14"
6   Michael Boroš (CZE) Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice + 15"
7   Aimé De Gendt (BEL) Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 15"
8   Sean De Bie (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 16"
9   Antoine Warnier (BEL) WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic + 16"
10   Conor Dunne (IRL) Aqua Blue Sport + 16"

Stage 3

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25 May 2018 — Bornem to Bornem, 10.6 km (6.6 mi), individual time trial (ITT)
Result of Stage 3
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Christophe Laporte (FRA) Cofidis 12' 38"
2   Andriy Hrivko (UKR) Astana + 5"
3   Brian van Goethem (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 7"
4   Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 10"
5   Mark Christian (GBR) Aqua Blue Sport + 10"
6   Marco Mathis (GER) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 10"
7   Quinten Hermans (BEL) Telenet–Fidea Lions + 15"
8   Sean De Bie (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 16"
9   Peter Koning (NED) Aqua Blue Sport + 18"
10   Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) Aqua Blue Sport + 18"
General classification after Stage 3
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Christophe Laporte (FRA)   Cofidis 7h 22' 28"
2   André Greipel (GER)   Lotto–Soudal + 4"
3   Andriy Hrivko (UKR) Astana + 5"
4   Brian van Goethem (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 7"
5   Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 9"
6   Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) Aqua Blue Sport + 9"
7   Mark Christian (GBR) Aqua Blue Sport + 10"
8   Sean De Bie (BEL) Vérandas Willems–Crelan + 12"
9   Quinten Hermans (BEL) Telenet–Fidea Lions + 15"
10   Peter Koning (NED) Aqua Blue Sport + 18"

Stage 4

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26 May 2018 — Wanze to Wanze, 151.4 km (94.1 mi)
Result of Stage 4
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Jelle Vanendert (BEL) Lotto–Soudal 3h 33' 24"
2   Jens Keukeleire (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 16"
3   Dion Smith (NZL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 16"
4   Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 16"
5   Eddie Dunbar (IRL) Aqua Blue Sport + 20"
6   Andriy Hrivko (UKR) Astana + 1' 09"
7   Gianni Marchand (BEL) Cibel–Cebon + 1' 09"
8   Jenthe Biermans (BEL) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 1' 53"
9   Martijn Budding (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 1' 53"
10   Quinten Hermans (BEL) Telenet–Fidea Lions + 1' 53"
General classification after Stage 4
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Jens Keukeleire (BEL)   Lotto–Soudal 10h 56' 11"
2   Jelle Vanendert (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 15"
3   Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 26"
4   Dion Smith (NZL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 39"
5   Eddie Dunbar (IRL) Aqua Blue Sport + 45"
6   Andriy Hrivko (UKR) Astana + 55"
7   Gianni Marchand (BEL) Cibel–Cebon + 1' 16"
8   Quinten Hermans (BEL) Telenet–Fidea Lions + 1' 49"
9   Jenthe Biermans (BEL) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 1' 53"
10   Bryan Coquard (FRA) Vital Concept + 1' 58"

Stage 5

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27 May 2018 — Landen to Tongeren, 157.7 km (98.0 mi)
Result of Stage 5
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Bryan Coquard (FRA) Vital Concept 3h 47' 26"
2   Christophe Laporte (FRA) Cofidis + 0"
3   Roy Jans (BEL) Cibel–Cebon + 0"
4   Bram Welten (NED) Fortuneo–Samsic + 0"
5   Kenny Dehaes (BEL) WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic + 0"
6   Christophe Noppe (BEL) Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 0"
7   Timothy Dupont (BEL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 0"
8   André Greipel (GER)   Lotto–Soudal + 0"
9   Jelle Mannaerts (BEL) Tarteletto–Isorex + 0"
10   Riccardo Minali (ITA) Astana + 0"
Final general classification
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Jens Keukeleire (BEL)   Lotto–Soudal 14h 43' 37"
2   Jelle Vanendert (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 15"
3   Dion Smith (NZL) Wanty–Groupe Gobert + 39"
4   Eddie Dunbar (IRL) Aqua Blue Sport + 45"
5   Andriy Hrivko (UKR) Astana + 55"
6   Gianni Marchand (BEL) Cibel–Cebon + 1' 16"
7   Bryan Coquard (FRA) Vital Concept + 1' 48"
8   Quinten Hermans (BEL) Telenet–Fidea Lions + 1' 49"
9   Jenthe Biermans (BEL) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 1' 53"
10   Martijn Budding (NED) Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij + 2' 50"

Classification leadership table

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In the 2018 Tour of Belgium, three different jerseys were awarded. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. Time bonuses were awarded to the first three finishers on all stages: the stage winner won a ten-second bonus, with six and four seconds for the second and third riders respectively. Bonus seconds were also awarded to the first three riders at sprints in the "golden kilometre", where three intermediate sprint positions were held within the space of a kilometre. Three seconds were awarded for the winner of the sprint, two seconds for the rider in second and one second for the rider in third. The leader of the general classification received a blue jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2018 Tour of Belgium, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.

Points for the points classification
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Points awarded 30 25 22 19 17 15 13 12 11 10

The second classification was the points classification. Riders were awarded points for finishing in the top ten in a stage. Unlike in the points classification in the Tour de France, the winners of all stages were awarded the same number of points. The leader of the points classification was awarded a red jersey. There was also a combativity classification, where riders received points for finishing in the top five at intermediate sprint points during each stage, on a 10–8–6–4–2 scale. Bonus points were awarded if a breakaway had gained a sufficient advantage over the field, up to a maximum of 5 points. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists in a team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest cumulative time.

Stage Winner General classification
(Dutch: Algemeenklassement)
 
Points classification
(Dutch: Puntenklassement)
 
Combativity classification
(Dutch: Strijdlustklassement)
 
Teams classification
(Dutch: Ploegenklassement)
 
1 André Greipel André Greipel André Greipel Aimé De Gendt Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij
2 André Greipel Vérandas Willems–Crelan
3 Christophe Laporte Christophe Laporte Aqua Blue Sport
4 Jelle Vanendert Jens Keukeleire Thomas Sprengers Lotto–Soudal
5 Bryan Coquard
Final Jens Keukeleire André Greipel Thomas Sprengers Lotto–Soudal

References

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  1. ^ "Ploegenpresentatie Buggenhout" (in Dutch).
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