# 2017 Tour of Belgium

The 2017 Tour of Belgium, known as the 2017 Baloise Belgium Tour for sponsorship purposes, was the 87th edition of the Tour of Belgium cycling stage race. It took place from 24 to 28 May 2017 in Belgium, as part of the 2017 UCI Europe Tour; it was categorised as a 2.HC race. Defending champion Dries Devenyns (Quick-Step Floors) did not take part in the race, as he was taking part in the concurrent Giro d'Italia.
The race was won by Jens Keukeleire, riding for the Belgium national team. Keukeleire trailed overnight leader Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step Floors) by a second going into the final stage, but bonus seconds gained in the race's "golden kilometre" – where three intermediate sprint positions were held within the space of a kilometre – allowed Keukeleire to move into the lead on the road, and despite crashing in the final three kilometres, he was able to win the race by six seconds from Cavagna. Three-time race winner Tony Martin of Team Katusha–Alpecin completed the podium, five seconds further behind Cavagna.
In the race's other classifications, Jens Debusschere (Lotto–Soudal) won the points classification, the combativity classification was won by Cofidis rider Kenneth Vanbilsen, while the teams classification was taken by Quick-Step Floors, after placing three riders in the top five places overall.

## Teams

20 teams were selected to take part in Tour of Belgium. Five of these were UCI WorldTeams, with ten UCI Professional Continental teams, four UCI Continental teams and a Belgium national team.
UCI WorldTeams
* Astana
* Team Katusha–Alpecin
* Lotto–Soudal
* Quick-Step Floors
* Trek–Segafredo
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Aqua Blue Sport
* Cofidis
* Direct Énergie
* Nippo–Vini Fantini
* Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij
* Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise
* Vérandas Willems–Crelan
* Wanty–Groupe Gobert
* WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
* Fortuneo–Vital Concept
UCI Continental teams
* Beobank–Corendon
* Cibel–Cebon
* Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice
* Telenet–Fidea Lions
National teams
* Belgium

## Schedule

The race itinerary was announced on 23 February 2017.
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 24 May | Lochristi to Knokke-Heist | 178.8 km (111.1 mi) | | Flat stage | Bryan Coquard (FRA) |
| 2 | 25 May | Knokke-Heist to Moorslede | 199.0 km (123.7 mi) | | Flat stage | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) |
| 3 | 26 May | Beveren to Beveren | 13.4 km (8.3 mi) | | Individual time trial | Matthias Brändle (AUT) |
| 4 | 27 May | Ans to Ans | 167.8 km (104.3 mi) | | Intermediate stage | Maurits Lammertink (NED) |
| 5 | 28 May | Tienen to Tongeren | 169.6 km (105.4 mi) | | Flat stage | Jens Debusschere (BEL) |
| Total | Total | 728.6 km (452.7 mi) | 728.6 km (452.7 mi) | 728.6 km (452.7 mi) | 728.6 km (452.7 mi) | 728.6 km (452.7 mi) | 728.6 km (452.7 mi) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 24 May 2017 — Lochristi to Knokke-Heist, 178.8 km (111.1 mi)

Result of Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | 4h 08' 58" |
| 2 | Jens Debusschere (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 0" |
| 3 | Daniel McLay (GBR) | Fortuneo–Vital Concept | + 0" |
| 4 | Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 0" |
| 5 | Roy Jans (BEL) | WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | + 0" |
| 6 | Bert Van Lerberghe (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 0" |
| 7 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 0" |
| 8 | Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 9 | Kenny Dehaes (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 0" |
| 10 | Nicolas Marini (ITA) | Nippo–Vini Fantini | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | 4h 08' 48" |
| 2 | Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 1" |
| 3 | Jens Debusschere (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 4" |
| 4 | Daniel McLay (GBR) | Fortuneo–Vital Concept | + 6" |
| 5 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 6" |
| 6 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 8" |
| 7 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 8" |
| 8 | Élie Gesbert (FRA) | Fortuneo–Vital Concept | + 9" |
| 9 | Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 10" |
| 10 | Roy Jans (BEL) | WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | + 10" |

### Stage 2
#### 25 May 2017 — Knokke-Heist to Moorslede, 199 km (124 mi)

Result of Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | Beobank–Corendon | 4h 43' 12" |
| 2 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 0" |
| 3 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | + 0" |
| 4 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 0" |
| 5 | Olivier Pardini (BEL) | WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | + 0" |
| 6 | Florian Sénéchal (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 7 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 0" |
| 8 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 3" |
| 9 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 3" |
| 10 | Maarten Wynants (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 5" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | 8h 51' 57" |
| 2 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | + 6" |
| 3 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 8" |
| 4 | Florian Sénéchal (FRA) | Cofidis | + 12" |
| 5 | Olivier Pardini (BEL) | WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | + 13" |
| 6 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 13" |
| 7 | Jelle Vanendert (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 15" |
| 8 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 16" |
| 9 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 16" |
| 10 | Maarten Wynants (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 18" |

### Stage 3
#### 26 May 2017 — Beveren to Beveren, 13.4 km (8.3 mi), individual time trial (ITT)

Result of Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Matthias Brändle (AUT) | Trek–Segafredo | 15' 40" |
| 2 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 14" |
| 3 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | + 14" |
| 4 | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) | Direct Énergie | + 14" |
| 5 | Rémi Cavagna (FRA) | Quick-Step Floors | + 21" |
| 6 | Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 22" |
| 7 | Yves Lampaert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 30" |
| 8 | Anthony Turgis (FRA) | Cofidis | + 33" |
| 9 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 34" |
| 10 | Simon Špilak (SLO) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 38" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | 9h 07' 57" |
| 2 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 10" |
| 3 | Matthias Brändle (AUT) | Trek–Segafredo | + 11" |
| 4 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 19" |
| 5 | Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 24" |
| 6 | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) | Direct Énergie | + 25" |
| 7 | Rémi Cavagna (FRA) | Quick-Step Floors | + 32" |
| 8 | Olivier Pardini (BEL) | WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | + 35" |
| 9 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 39" |
| 10 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 40" |

### Stage 4
#### 27 May 2017 — Ans to Ans, 167.8 km (104.3 mi)

Result of Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Maurits Lammertink (NED) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | 4h 09' 50" |
| 2 | Ruben Guerreiro (POR) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 3 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 5" |
| 4 | Rémi Cavagna (FRA) | Quick-Step Floors | + 5" |
| 5 | Jan Bakelants (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 31" |
| 6 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 31" |
| 7 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 31" |
| 8 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 31" |
| 9 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 31" |
| 10 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 31" |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Rémi Cavagna (FRA) | Quick-Step Floors | 13h 18' 23" |
| 2 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 1" |
| 3 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 5" |
| 4 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 14" |
| 5 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 34" |
| 6 | Maurits Lammertink (NED) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 34" |
| 7 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 35" |
| 8 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 36" |
| 9 | Ruben Guerreiro (POR) | Trek–Segafredo | + 46" |
| 10 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | + 52" |

### Stage 5
#### 28 May 2017 — Tienen to Tongeren, 169.6 km (105.4 mi)

Result of Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jens Debusschere (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 3h 41' 25" |
| 2 | Coen Vermeltfoort (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 0" |
| 3 | Boy van Poppel (NED) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 4 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 0" |
| 5 | Kenny Dehaes (BEL) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 0" |
| 6 | Aaron Gate (NZL) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 0" |
| 7 | Bert Van Lerberghe (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 0" |
| 8 | Jürgen Roelandts (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 0" |
| 9 | Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 10 | Joeri Stallaert (BEL) | Cibel–Cebon | + 0" |
Final general classification :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | 16h 59' 42" |
| 2 | Rémi Cavagna (FRA) | Quick-Step Floors | + 6" |
| 3 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 11" |
| 4 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 12" |
| 5 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 38" |
| 6 | Maurits Lammertink (NED) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 40" |
| 7 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 40" |
| 8 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 42" |
| 9 | Ruben Guerreiro (POR) | Trek–Segafredo | + 52" |
| 10 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | + 58" |

## Classification leadership table

In the 2017 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 red jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2017 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 blue 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 | Bryan Coquard | Bryan Coquard | Bryan Coquard | Kenneth Vanbilsen | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise |
| 2 | Mathieu van der Poel | Philippe Gilbert | Bryan Coquard | Kenneth Vanbilsen | Quick-Step Floors |
| 3 | Matthias Brändle | Wout van Aert | Wout van Aert | Kenneth Vanbilsen | Quick-Step Floors |
| 4 | Maurits Lammertink | Rémi Cavagna | Tony Martin | Kenneth Vanbilsen | Quick-Step Floors |
| 5 | Jens Debusschere | Jens Keukeleire | Jens Debusschere | Kenneth Vanbilsen | Quick-Step Floors |
| Final | Final | Jens Keukeleire | Jens Debusschere | Kenneth Vanbilsen | Quick-Step Floors |

## Final 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

Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | 16h 59' 42" |
| 2 | Rémi Cavagna (FRA) | Quick-Step Floors | + 6" |
| 3 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 11" |
| 4 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 12" |
| 5 | Julien Vermote (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | + 38" |
| 6 | Maurits Lammertink (NED) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 40" |
| 7 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 40" |
| 8 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | + 42" |
| 9 | Ruben Guerreiro (POR) | Trek–Segafredo | + 52" |
| 10 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | + 58" |

### Points classification

Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Jens Debusschere (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 55 |
| 2 | Tony Martin (GER) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | 41 |
| 3 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | 38 |
| 4 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | 35 |
| 5 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | 32 |
| 6 | Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | 32 |
| 7 | Rémi Cavagna (FRA) | Quick-Step Floors | 31 |
| 8 | Maurits Lammertink (NED) | Team Katusha–Alpecin | 30 |
| 9 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | 30 |
| 10 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | 29 |

### Combativity classification

Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Kenneth Vanbilsen (BEL) | Cofidis | 50 |
| 2 | Brian van Goethem (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | 36 |
| 3 | Philipp Walsleben (GER) | Beobank–Corendon | 24 |
| 4 | Benjamin Declercq (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | 23 |
| 5 | Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) | Aqua Blue Sport | 21 |
| 6 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) | Belgium (national team) | 21 |
| 7 | Rob Leemans (BEL) | Pauwels Sauzen–Vastgoedservice | 19 |
| 8 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Quick-Step Floors | 18 |
| 9 | Ludwig De Winter (BEL) | WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 17 |
| 10 | Taco van der Hoorn (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | 17 |

### Teams classification

Result :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Quick-Step Floors | 51h 00' 13" |
| 2 | Belgium (national team) | + 1' 02" |
| 3 | Team Katusha–Alpecin | + 1' 17" |
| 4 | Aqua Blue Sport | + 3' 55" |
| 5 | Cibel–Cebon | + 5' 39" |
| 6 | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 8' 09" |
| 7 | WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | + 9' 31" |
| 8 | Trek–Segafredo | + 10' 30" |
| 9 | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 10' 43" |
| 10 | Lotto–Soudal | + 11' 46" |