Contador back from ban at Eneco Tour

Christian Knees chases, Eneco Tour 2011, stage two

Spaniard Alberto Contador lines up for the Eneco Tour on Monday, his first race back after serving a suspension for testing positive for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France.

Contador heads up Saxo Bank-Tinokff Bank's squad for the race, which he will use as a warm-up for the Vuelta a Espana in August/September.

Five British riders take part in the WorldTour-level, seven-stage race that takes place in Belgium and the Netherlands. David Millar (Garmin-Sharp), Adam Blythe (BMC Racing), Alex Dowsett, Jeremy Hunt and Luke Rowe (all Sky) are on the start list.

Millar placed third overall in last year's race behind winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma, now BMC). Neither Boasson Hagen nor Gilbert are riding in the event this year.

This year's Eneco Tour sees a bit of a shake-up with the formula, particularly with the introduction of a team time trial.

After Monday's flat opening stage that is likely to end in a bunch gallop, the team time trial comes on Tuesday - one of two tests against the clock along with a 17.4km individual time trial around Ardooie on Saturday.

Wednesday's climb-packed third stage from Riemst to Genk promises to re-jig the top order of the overall classification for the second time in two days.

The race concludes on Sunday August 12 with a stage to Geraardsbergen, a stage that will please the classics men with its three ascents of the Muur van Geraardsbergen, iconic climb of former editions of the Tour of Flanders but missing from this year's course.

Eneco Tour 2012: Stages

Stage one: Monday August 6, Waalwijk to Middelburg, 203.9km

Stage two: Tuesday August 7, Sittard-Geleen, 18.9km TTT

Stage three: Wednesday August 8, Riemst to Genk, 188km

Stage four: Thursday August 9, Heers to Bergen op Zoom, 213.3km

Stage five: Friday August 10, Hoogerheide to Aalter, 184.6km

Stage six: Saturday August 11, Ardooie, 17.4km ITT

Stage seven: Sunday August 12, Maldegem to Geraardsbergen, 214.5km

Eneco Tour: Last year's top ten

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky in 22-30-58

2. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 23 secs

3. David Millar (GB) Team Garmin-Cervelo at 29 secs

4. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing at 36 secs

5. Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank at 58 secs

6. Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 1-05

7. Dominique Cornu (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator at 1-08

8. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep at 1-09

9. Ben Hermans (Bel) RadioShack at 1-10

10. Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard-Trek at 1-14

Related links

UCI WorldTour calendar 2012

Boasson Hagen wins 2011 Eneco Tour overall

External link

Eneco Tour official website

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.