# 2018 Tour de Wallonie

The 2018 VOO-Tour de Wallonie was a five-stage men's professional road cycling race, held in Belgium as a 2.HC race on the 2018 UCI Europe Tour. It was the forty-fifth running of the Tour de Wallonie, starting on 28 July in La Louvière and finishing on 1 August in Waremme.

## Schedule

List of stages and stage characteristics :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 28 July | La Louvière to Les Bons Villers | 193.4 km (120 mi) | Hilly stage | Romain Cardis (FRA) |
| 2 | 29 July | Villers-la-Ville to Namur | 167.2 km (104 mi) | Hilly stage | Tim Wellens (BEL) |
| 3 | 30 July | Chimay to La Roche-en-Ardenne | 169.2 km (105 mi) | Hilly stage | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) |
| 4 | 31 July | Malmedy to Herstal | 161.4 km (100 mi) | Hilly stage | Quinten Hermans (BEL) |
| 5 | 1 August | Huy to Waremme | 187.5 km (117 mi) | Hilly stage | Jens Debusschere (BEL) |

## Teams

Twenty teams entered the race. Each team had a maximum of seven riders:
UCI WorldTeams
* Lotto–Soudal
* Quick-Step Floors
* Team Dimension Data
* Team Katusha–Alpecin
* UAE Team Emirates
* Groupama–FDJ
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Aqua Blue Sport
* Cofidis
* Direct Énergie
* Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij
* Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise
* Fortuneo–Samsic
* Vérandas Willems–Crelan
* Vital Concept
* Wanty–Groupe Gobert
* WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic
UCI Continental teams
* AGO–Aqua Service
* Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice
* Roubaix–Lille Métropole
* Telenet–Fidea Lions

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 28 July 2018 — La Louvière to Les Bons Villers, 193.4 km (120.2 mi)

Result of stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Romain Cardis (FRA) | Direct Énergie | 4h 25' 57" |
| 2 | Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 3 | Edward Planckaert (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | s.t. |
| 4 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | s.t. |
| 5 | Jonas van Genechten (BEL) | Vital Concept | s.t. |
| 6 | Corné van Kessel (NED) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | s.t. |
| 7 | Nick van der Lijke (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | s.t. |
| 8 | Zico Waeytens (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | s.t. |
| 9 | Hugo Hofstetter (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 10 | Tom Wirtgen (LUX) | AGO–Aqua Service | s.t. |
General classification after stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Romain Cardis (FRA) | Direct Énergie | 4h 25' 47" |
| 2 | Quinten Hermans (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | + 3" |
| 3 | Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) | Cofidis | + 4" |
| 4 | Edward Planckaert (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 6" |
| 5 | Steven Tronet (FRA) | Roubaix–Lille Métropole | + 8" |
| 6 | Michael Boroš (CZE) | Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice | + 9" |
| 7 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 10" |
| 8 | Jonas van Genechten (BEL) | Vital Concept | + 10" |
| 9 | Corné van Kessel (NED) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | + 10" |
| 10 | Nick van der Lijke (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 10" |

### Stage 2
#### 29 July 2018 — Villers-la-Ville to Namur, 167.2 km (103.9 mi)

Result of stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 4h 06' 56" |
| 2 | Pieter Serry (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
| 3 | Quentin Pacher (FRA) | Vital Concept | s.t. |
| 4 | Jhonatan Narváez (ECU) | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
| 5 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | s.t. |
| 6 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | s.t. |
| 7 | Frederik Backaert (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | s.t. |
| 8 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | s.t. |
| 9 | Kevin Deltombe (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | s.t. |
| 10 | Enric Mas (ESP) | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
General classification after stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 8h 32' 42" |
| 2 | Pieter Serry (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 4" |
| 3 | Quentin Pacher (FRA) | Vital Concept | + 6" |
| 4 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 10" |
| 5 | Jhonatan Narváez (ECU) | Quick-Step Floors | + 10" |
| 6 | Frederik Backaert (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 10" |
| 7 | Kevin Deltombe (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 10" |
| 8 | Romain Cardis (FRA) | Direct Énergie | + 10" |
| 9 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 10" |
| 10 | Tiago Machado (POR) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 10" |

### Stage 3
#### 30 July 2018 — Chimay to La Roche-en-Ardenne, 169.2 km (105.1 mi)

Result of stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | 3h 54' 44" |
| 2 | Quinten Hermans (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | + 6" |
| 3 | Lorenzo Manzin (FRA) | Vital Concept | + 6" |
| 4 | Jens Adams (BEL) | Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice | + 6" |
| 5 | Jhonatan Narváez (ECU) | Quick-Step Floors | + 6" |
| 6 | Pieter Serry (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 6" |
| 7 | Michel Kreder (NED) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 6" |
| 8 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 6" |
| 9 | Romain Le Roux (FRA) | Fortuneo–Samsic | + 6" |
| 10 | Nick van der Lijke (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 6" |
General classification after stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 12h 27' 33" |
| 2 | Pieter Serry (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 4" |
| 3 | Quentin Pacher (FRA) | Vital Concept | + 6" |
| 4 | Quinten Hermans (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | + 7" |
| 5 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 10" |
| 6 | Jhonatan Narváez (ECU) | Quick-Step Floors | + 10" |
| 7 | Frederik Backaert (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 10" |
| 8 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 10" |
| 9 | Tiago Machado (POR) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 10" |
| 10 | James Knox (GBR) | Quick-Step Floors | + 10" |

### Stage 4
#### 31 July 2018 — Malmedy to Herstal, 161.4 km (100.3 mi)

Result of stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Quinten Hermans (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | 3h 46' 58" |
| 2 | Lorenzo Manzin (FRA) | Vital Concept | s.t. |
| 3 | Romain Cardis (FRA) | Direct Énergie | s.t. |
| 4 | Pieter Serry (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
| 5 | Edward Planckaert (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | s.t. |
| 6 | Huub Duijn (NED) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | s.t. |
| 7 | Nick van der Lijke (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | s.t. |
| 8 | Dorian Godon (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 9 | Kevin Deltombe (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | s.t. |
| 10 | Floris Gerts (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | s.t. |
General classification after stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Quinten Hermans (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | 16h 14' 28" |
| 2 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 3" |
| 3 | Pieter Serry (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 7" |
| 4 | Quentin Pacher (FRA) | Vital Concept | + 9" |
| 5 | Jhonatan Narváez (ECU) | Quick-Step Floors | + 13" |
| 6 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 13" |
| 7 | Lorenzo Manzin (FRA) | Vital Concept | + 13" |
| 8 | Frederik Backaert (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 13" |
| 9 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 13" |
| 10 | Tiago Machado (POR) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 13" |

### Stage 5
#### 1 August 2018 — Huy to Waremme, 187.5 km (116.5 mi)

Result of stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jens Debusschere (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 3h 46' 58" |
| 2 | Álvaro José Hodeg (COL) | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
| 3 | Ryan Gibbons (RSA) | Team Dimension Data | s.t. |
| 4 | Quinten Hermans (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | s.t. |
| 5 | Bram Welten (NED) | Fortuneo–Samsic | s.t. |
| 6 | Edward Planckaert (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | s.t. |
| 7 | Hugo Hofstetter (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 8 | Kenny Dehaes (BEL) | WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic | s.t. |
| 9 | Daniel Hoelgaard (NOR) | Groupama–FDJ | s.t. |
| 10 | Romain Cardis (FRA) | Direct Énergie | s.t. |
Final general classification :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 20h 22' 26" |
| 2 | Quinten Hermans (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea Lions | s.t. |
| 3 | Pieter Serry (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 7" |
| 4 | Quentin Pacher (FRA) | Vital Concept | + 9" |
| 5 | Jhonatan Narváez (ECU) | Quick-Step Floors | + 11" |
| 6 | James Knox (GBR) | Quick-Step Floors | + 12" |
| 7 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 13" |
| 8 | Lorenzo Manzin (FRA) | Vital Concept | + 13" |
| 9 | Frederik Backaert (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 13" |
| 10 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 13" |

## Classification leadership table

In the 2018 Tour de Wallonie, five different jerseys were awarded. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers at intermediate sprints (three seconds to first, two seconds to second and one second to third) and at the finish of all stages to the first three finishers: the stage winner won a ten-second bonus, with six and four seconds for the second and third riders respectively. The leader of the classification received a yellow jersey; it was considered the most important of the 2018 Tour de Wallonie, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.
Points for the mountains classification :
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Points for Category 1 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Points for Category 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a white jersey. In the mountains classification, points towards the classification were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists. Each climb was categorised as either first, or second-category, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs.
Points for the points classification :
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Stage finishes | 25 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 10 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, with 20 for second, 15 for third, 10 for fourth and so on, down to 1 point for 10th place. There was also a separate classification for the intermediate sprints, rewarding a purple jersey. Points towards the classification were accrued – awarded on a 5–3–1 scale – at intermediate sprint points during each stage; these intermediate sprints also offered bonus seconds towards the general classification as noted above.
Finally, the leader in the classification for young riders, wore a red bib number. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 28 July 1995 were eligible to be ranked in the classification. There was also a team classification, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Sprints classification | Teams classification | Combativity award |
| 1 | Romain Cardis | Romain Cardis | Romain Cardis | Quinten Hermans | Quinten Hermans | Lionel Taminiaux | Cofidis | Conor Dunne |
| 2 | Tim Wellens | Tim Wellens | Tim Wellens | Nicolas Cleppe | Jhonatan Narváez | Kasper Asgreen | Quick-Step Floors | Lachlan Morton |
| 3 | Odd Christian Eiking | Tim Wellens | Odd Christian Eiking | Nicolas Cleppe | Quinten Hermans | Edward Planckaert | Quick-Step Floors | Daan Soete |
| 4 | Quinten Hermans | Quinten Hermans | Quinten Hermans | Nicolas Cleppe | Quinten Hermans | Edward Planckaert | Quick-Step Floors | Etienne van Empel |
| 5 | Jens Debusschere | Tim Wellens | Quinten Hermans | Nicolas Cleppe | Quinten Hermans | Edward Planckaert | Quick-Step Floors | James Knox |
| Final | Final | Tim Wellens | Quinten Hermans | Nicolas Cleppe | Quinten Hermans | Edward Planckaert | Quick-Step Floors | No final award |
* In stage two, Michael Van Staeyen, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Romain Cardis wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification.
* In stage three, Romain Cardis, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Tim Wellens wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification.
* In stage five, Romain Cardis, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Quinten Hermans wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification.