# 2016 Tour of Belgium

The 2016 Tour of Belgium was the 86th edition of the Tour of Belgium cycling stage race. It took place from 25 to 29 May 2016 in Belgium as part of the 2016 UCI Europe Tour and was won by Dries Devenyns. Defending champion Greg Van Avermaet did not take part in the race.
On 28 May 2016, during the Stage 3, a crash of two motorcycles into the peloton injured 19 riders. The stage was cancelled that day and several riders abandoned the race and did not start on Stage 4. Stig Broeckx was reported to suffer severe injuries and was in a coma and vegetative (succumbing) state in the hospital in Gent.

## Teams

UCI WorldTeams
* Astana
* Etixx–Quick-Step
* IAM Cycling
* Lotto–Soudal
* Team Giant–Alpecin
* Team Katusha
* Trek–Segafredo
* Cannondale
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec
* Bora–Argon 18
* Cofidis
* Direct Énergie
* Fortuneo–Vital Concept
* Roompot–Oranje Peloton
* Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise
* Wanty–Groupe Gobert
UCI Continental teams
* Cibel–Cebon
* Crelan–Vastgoedservice
* Team3M
* Verandas Willems
* Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect
* Telenet–Fidea

## Schedule

| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner | Ref |
| P | 25 May | Beveren to Beveren | 6 km (3.7 mi) | | Individual time trial | Wout van Aert (BEL) | |
| 1 | 26 May | Buggenhout to Knokke-Heist | 174.5 km (108.4 mi) | | Flat stage | Edward Theuns (BEL) | |
| 2 | 27 May | Knokke-Heist to Herzele | 200.9 km (124.8 mi) | | Flat stage | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | |
| 3 | 28 May | Verviers to Verviers | 203.0 km (126.1 mi) | | Intermediate stage | stage cancelled | |
| 4 | 29 May | Tremelo to Tongeren | 174.2 km (108.2 mi) | | Intermediate stage | Zico Waeytens (BEL) | |
| Total | Total | 758.6 km (471.4 mi) | 758.6 km (471.4 mi) | 758.6 km (471.4 mi) | 758.6 km (471.4 mi) | 758.6 km (471.4 mi) | 758.6 km (471.4 mi) |

## Stages
### Prologue
#### 25 May 2016 – Beveren to Beveren, 6 km (3.7 mi)

Result and General classification after prologue :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Crelan–Vastgoedservice | 6' 52" |
| 2 | Tony Martin (GER) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 2" |
| 3 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 4" |
| 4 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 4" |
| 5 | Yves Lampaert (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 5" |
| 6 | Martin Elmiger (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 6" |
| 7 | Lars Boom (NED) | Astana | + 7" |
| 8 | David Boucher (BEL) | Crelan–Vastgoedservice | + 10" |
| 9 | Gijs Van Hoecke (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 11" |
| 10 | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) | Direct Énergie | + 11" |

### Stage 1
#### 26 May 2016 – Buggenhout to Knokke-Heist, 174.5 km (108.4 mi)

Result of stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | 4h 14' 03" |
| 2 | Daniel McLay (GBR) | Fortuneo–Vital Concept | s.t. |
| 3 | Kenny Dehaes (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | s.t. |
| 4 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | s.t. |
| 5 | Timothy Dupont (BEL) | Verandas Willems | s.t. |
| 6 | Jonas van Genechten (BEL) | IAM Cycling | s.t. |
| 7 | Jonas Ahlstrand (SWE) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 8 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | s.t. |
| 9 | Francesco Chicchi (ITA) | Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec | s.t. |
| 10 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | s.t. |
General classification after stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Crelan–Vastgoedservice | 4h 20' 55" |
| 2 | Tony Martin (GER) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 2" |
| 3 | Yves Lampaert (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 4" |
| 4 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 4" |
| 5 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 4" |
| 6 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 5" |
| 7 | Martin Elmiger (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 6" |
| 8 | Lars Boom (NED) | Astana | + 7" |
| 9 | David Boucher (BEL) | Crelan–Vastgoedservice | + 10" |
| 10 | Daniel McLay (GBR) | Fortuneo–Vital Concept | + 10" |

### Stage 2
#### 27 May 2016 – Knokke-Heist to Herzele, 200.9 km (124.8 mi)

Result of stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | IAM Cycling | 4h 32' 26" |
| 2 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | + 1" |
| 3 | Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 1" |
| 4 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 1" |
| 5 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 1" |
| 6 | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 1" |
| 7 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 1" |
| 8 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 1" |
| 9 | Floris De Tier (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 1" |
| 10 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 40" |
General classification after stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | IAM Cycling | 8h 53' 22" |
| 2 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 4" |
| 3 | Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 7" |
| 4 | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 16" |
| 5 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | + 18" |
| 6 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 20" |
| 7 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 23" |
| 8 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 23" |
| 9 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Crelan–Vastgoedservice | + 39" |
| 10 | Yves Lampaert (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 43" |

### Stage 3
#### 28 May 2016 – Verviers to Verviers, 203.0 km (126.1 mi)

Two motorbikes crashed and fell into the peloton at high speeds about 65 km into the stage. 19 riders were involved into the crash, with Stig Broeckx, Fredrik Ludvigsson, Jesper Asselman, Andrea Guardini, Kristoffer Skjerping and Pieter Jacobs all transported to the hospital because of injuries. Broeckx, who had just recovered from injury after already being hit by a motorbike during the 2016 Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne race two months earlier, was in worst shape as he immediately went unconscious and was later diagnosed to have two intracranial hemorrhages and a broken eye socket. Race direction and riders decided not to continue the race. A closed peloton rode to the finish in Verviers as the stage was cancelled.

### Stage 4
#### 29 May 2016 – Tremelo to Tongeren, 174.2 km (108.2 mi)

Several riders did not start the race, most notably the entire team of Stig Broeckx, Lotto–Soudal.
Result of stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Zico Waeytens (BEL) | Team Giant–Alpecin | 3h 34' 08" |
| 2 | Daniel McLay (GBR) | Fortuneo–Vital Concept | s.t. |
| 3 | Timothy Dupont (BEL) | Verandas Willems | s.t. |
| 4 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | s.t. |
| 5 | Shane Archbold (NZL) | Bora–Argon 18 | s.t. |
| 6 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | s.t. |
| 7 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Etixx–Quick-Step | s.t. |
| 8 | Michel Kreder (NED) | Roompot–Oranje Peloton | s.t. |
| 9 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | s.t. |
| 10 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | s.t. |
Final general classification :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | IAM Cycling | 12h 27' 30" |
| 2 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 4" |
| 3 | Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 4" |
| 4 | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 16" |
| 5 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | + 18" |
| 6 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 20" |
| 7 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 23" |
| 8 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Crelan–Vastgoedservice | + 39" |
| 9 | Yves Lampaert (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 43" |
| 10 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 43" |

## Classification leadership table

| Stage | Winner | General classification Algemeen klassement | Points classification Puntenklassement | Combativity classification Prijs van de strijdlust | Teams classification Ploegenklassement |
| P | Wout van Aert | Wout van Aert | Wout van Aert | Not awarded | Etixx–Quick-Step |
| 1 | Edward Theuns | Wout van Aert | Edward Theuns | Ludwig De Winter | Etixx–Quick-Step |
| 2 | Dries Devenyns | Dries Devenyns | Baptiste Planckaert | Amaury Capiot | IAM Cycling |
| 3 | stage cancelled | Dries Devenyns | Baptiste Planckaert | Amaury Capiot | IAM Cycling |
| 4 | Zico Waeytens | Dries Devenyns | Baptiste Planckaert | Amaury Capiot | IAM Cycling |
| Final | Final | Dries Devenyns | Baptiste Planckaert | Amaury Capiot | IAM Cycling |

## Standings

Legend :
| Denotes the leader of the General classification | Denotes the leader of the Points classification | Denotes the leader of the Combativity classification |

### General classification

Final :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | IAM Cycling | 12h 27' 30" |
| 2 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 4" |
| 3 | Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 4" |
| 4 | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 16" |
| 5 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | + 18" |
| 6 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 20" |
| 7 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 23" |
| 8 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Crelan–Vastgoedservice | + 39" |
| 9 | Yves Lampaert (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 43" |
| 10 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 43" |

### Points classification

Final :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | 63 |
| 2 | Daniel McLay (GBR) | Fortuneo–Vital Concept | 50 |
| 3 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | 40 |
| 4 | Reto Hollenstein (SUI) | IAM Cycling | 40 |
| 5 | Timothy Dupont (BEL) | Verandas Willems | 39 |
| 6 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | 38 |
| 7 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | IAM Cycling | 30 |
| 8 | Zico Waeytens (BEL) | Team Giant–Alpecin | 30 |
| 9 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | 28 |
| 10 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 27 |

### Combativity classification

Final :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Amaury Capiot (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | 48 |
| 2 | Brian Van Goethem (NED) | Roompot–Oranje Peloton | 21 |
| 3 | Lawrence Naesen (BEL) | Cibel–Cebon | 18 |
| 4 | Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 16 |
| 5 | Benjamin Verraes (BEL) | Cibel–Cebon | 12 |
| 6 | Christophe Prémont (BEL) | Verandas Willems | 12 |
| 7 | Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 10 |
| 8 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | IAM Cycling | 8 |
| 9 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | 8 |
| 10 | Toon Aerts (BEL) | Telenet–Fidea | 8 |

### Team classification

| | Team | Points |
| 1 | IAM Cycling | 37h 23' 29" |
| 2 | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 30" |
| 3 | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 40" |
| 4 | Team Katusha | + 1' 07" |
| 5 | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 1' 35" |
| 6 | Wallonie-Bruxelles–Group Protect | + 1' 37" |
| 7 | Cannondale | + 1' 50" |
| 8 | Direct Énergie | + 1' 52" |
| 9 | Roompot–Oranje Peloton | + 1' 55" |
| 10 | Verandas Willems | + 1' 57" |