Geraint Thomas to lead Team Sky at Eneco Tour
The Welshman will lead at the Benelux stage race having returned from racing in the Canadian WorldTour races
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a3figHxoK2vZg98thWjXLM-415-80.jpg)
Geraint Thomas in the 2016 Tour of Flanders
Geraint Thomas will lead Team Sky at the 2016 season's next WorldTour race, the Eneco Tour, while fellow Brits Luke Rowe and Andy Fenn will also appear.
Thomas made a return to racing after the Olympic Games at last week's GP de Québec and Montréal, and will now head into the WorldTour's final stage race as team leader.
>>> Team Sky rumoured to be wearing Castelli kit from 2017
The seven day race, which has been shifted from its usual August slot to a September schedule because of the Olympic Games, is proving a perfect training ground for those heading to the World Championships in Qatar on October 9-16.
Sky bring sprinter Elia Viviani, who will likely led the Italian team in the road race in Doha, but also strong classics riders like Danny Van Poppel and Michal Kwiatkowski, as well as Fenn and Rowe.
With two time trials featured this year, world time trial champion Vasil Kiryienka will have his last outings in the rainbow bands before the world championships on stages two and five. Former Tour de Yorkshire winner Lars Petter Nordhaug completes the eight-man team.
Any hopes of overall glory for Geraint Thomas are likely to rest on the crucial final stage, where the peloton will ride three times up the classic Tour of Flanders climb, the Muur van Geraardsbergen.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
A victory here for the Welshman would add a second WorldTour stage race win to his palmarés this season, having taken a sensational victory in Paris-Nice back in March.
Full line-up: Geraint Thomas, Andy Fenn, Vasil Kiryienka, Michal Kwiatkowski, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Luke Rowe, Danny Van Poppel, Elia Viviani.
Eneco Tour 2016 stages
Stage one, Mon Sept 19, Bolsward (Ned) to Bolsward (Ned), 184km
Stage two, Tue Sept 20, Breda (Ned) to Breda (Ned), 9.6km ITT
Stage three, Wed Sept 21, Blankenberge (Bel) to Ardooie (Bel), 182.3km
Stage four, Thu Sept 22, Aalter (Bel) to St-Pieters-Leeuw (Bel), 201.4km
Stage five, Fri Sept 23, Sittard-Geleen (Ned) to Sittard-Geleen (Ned), 20.9km TTT
Stage six, Sat Sept 24, Riemst (Bel) to Lanaken (Bel), 185.2km
Stage seven, Sun Sept 25, Bornem (Bel) to Geraardsbergen (Bel), 197.8km
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
How to watch the Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
Get all the information you need to watch the action of the men's and women's Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
By Cat Glowinski Published
-
Ribble Cycles looking to capitalise on 'big summer of sport' with 30% off highly-rated models
Direct-to-consumer Ribble Cycles has always been rated highly among the Cycling Weekly tech team. This is our pick of the best Road, Gravel and E-bikes from their 'Summer Sale'
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ill Geraint Thomas battling to remain in Tour de France
The 2018 Tour de France winner is showing mild symptoms of Covid
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'It was damage limitation': Tom Pidcock, Jai Hindley react to losing time on Tour de France stage two
"There’s going to be minutes in three weeks. 21 seconds doesn't mean anything," says Tom Pidcock after first blows dealt from the favourites in Bologna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'dreaming' of taking yellow jersey on opening weekend of Tour de France
British rider hopes to play starring role in Italian Grand Départ
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I think I'll get the opportunity to go for a stage' - Geraint Thomas relishing support role at Tour de France
Former yellow jersey winner says this year's race "could be my last"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Geraint Thomas not picked by GB during his final Olympic cycle
Double gold medallist misses out on spot in five-man road team
By Adam Becket Published
-
Carlos Rodríguez to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Tour de France, supported by Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock
British squad will aim to "race aggressively and disrupt" at the French Grand Tour
By Adam Becket Published