# 2021 Benelux Tour

The 2021 Benelux Tour is a road cycling stage race that took place from 30 August to 5 September 2021 in Belgium and the Netherlands. It was the first edition of the newly rebranded Benelux Tour and the 17th edition overall. The race was the 26th event on the 2021 UCI World Tour calendar.

## Teams

All nineteen UCI WorldTeams and three UCI ProTeams made up the twenty-two teams that participated in the race.AG2R Citroën Team and Team BikeExchange, with six riders each, were the only teams to not field a full squad of seven riders; Astana–Premier Tech was also reduced to six riders after a late non-starter. Of the 151 riders who started the race, 93 finished.
UCI WorldTeams
* AG2R Citroën Team
* Astana–Premier Tech
* Bora–Hansgrohe
* Cofidis
* Deceuninck–Quick-Step
* EF Education–Nippo
* Groupama–FDJ
* Ineos Grenadiers
* Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux
* Israel Start-Up Nation
* Lotto–Soudal
* Movistar Team
* Team Bahrain Victorious
* Team BikeExchange
* Team DSM
* Team Jumbo–Visma
* Team Qhubeka NextHash
* Trek–Segafredo
* UAE Team Emirates
UCI ProTeams
* Alpecin–Fenix
* Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB
* Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Stage winner |
| 1 | 30 August | Surhuisterveen to Dokkum | 169.6 km (105.4 mi) | | Flat stage | Tim Merlier (BEL) |
| 2 | 31 August | Lelystad to Lelystad | 11.1 km (6.9 mi) | | Individual time trial | Stefan Bissegger (SUI) |
| 3 | 1 September | Essen to Hoogerheide | 168.3 km (104.6 mi) | | Flat stage | Taco van der Hoorn (NED) |
| 4 | 2 September | Aalter to Ardooie | 166.1 km (103.2 mi) | | Flat stage | Tim Merlier (BEL) |
| 5 | 3 September | Riemst to Bilzen | 188.0 km (116.8 mi) | | Hilly stage | Caleb Ewan (AUS) |
| 6 | 4 September | Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve to Houffalize | 207.6 km (129.0 mi) | | Hilly stage | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) |
| 7 | 5 September | Namur to Geraardsbergen | 180.9 km (112.4 mi) | | Hilly stage | Matej Mohorič (SLO) |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,091.6 km (678.3 mi) | 1,091.6 km (678.3 mi) | 1,091.6 km (678.3 mi) | 1,091.6 km (678.3 mi) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 30 August 2021 – Surhuisterveen to Dokkum, 169.6 km (105.4 mi)

Stage 1 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Merlier (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | 3h 32' 20" |
| 2 | Phil Bauhaus (GER) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 0" |
| 3 | Álvaro Hodeg (COL) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 0" |
| 4 | Fernando Gaviria (COL) | UAE Team Emirates | + 0" |
| 5 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 0" |
| 6 | Mads Pedersen (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 7 | Max Walscheid (GER) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 0" |
| 8 | Stanisław Aniołkowski (POL) | Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB | + 0" |
| 9 | Mike Teunissen (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 0" |
| 10 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Merlier (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | 3h 32' 10" |
| 2 | Phil Bauhaus (GER) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 4" |
| 3 | Álvaro Hodeg (COL) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 6" |
| 4 | Mike Teunissen (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 6" |
| 5 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 6" |
| 6 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Team DSM | + 7" |
| 7 | Lukas Pöstlberger (AUT) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 7" |
| 8 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 8" |
| 9 | Kasper Asgreen (DEN) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 8" |
| 10 | Fernando Gaviria (COL) | UAE Team Emirates | + 10" |

### Stage 2
#### 31 August 2021 – Lelystad to Lelystad, 11.1 km (6.9 mi) (ITT)

Stage 2 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Stefan Bissegger (SUI) | EF Education–Nippo | 12' 08" |
| 2 | Edoardo Affini (ITA) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 15" |
| 3 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 20" |
| 4 | Kasper Asgreen (DEN) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 21" |
| 5 | Max Walscheid (GER) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 22" |
| 6 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 23" |
| 7 | Søren Kragh Andersen (DEN) | Team DSM | + 24" |
| 8 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 26" |
| 9 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 29" |
| 10 | Brandon McNulty (USA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 31" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Stefan Bissegger (SUI) | EF Education–Nippo | 3h 44' 28" |
| 2 | Kasper Asgreen (DEN) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 19" |
| 3 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 20" |
| 4 | Max Walscheid (GER) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 22" |
| 5 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 26" |
| 6 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 29" |
| 7 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 36" |
| 8 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 39" |
| 9 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 42" |
| 10 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 46" |

### Stage 3
#### 1 September 2021 – Essen to Hoogerheide, 168.3 km (104.6 mi)

Stage 3 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Taco van der Hoorn (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | 3h 40' 23" |
| 2 | Mathias Norsgaard (DEN) | Movistar Team | + 0" |
| 3 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 0" |
| 4 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 0" |
| 5 | Thimo Willems (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 0" |
| 6 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 4" |
| 7 | Phil Bauhaus (GER) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 4" |
| 8 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 4" |
| 9 | Caleb Ewan (AUS) | Lotto–Soudal | + 4" |
| 10 | Mads Pedersen (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 4" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Stefan Bissegger (SUI) | EF Education–Nippo | 7h 24' 55" |
| 2 | Kasper Asgreen (DEN) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 19" |
| 3 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 20" |
| 4 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 22" |
| 5 | Max Walscheid (GER) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 22" |
| 6 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 26" |
| 7 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 29" |
| 8 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 36" |
| 9 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 42" |
| 10 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 46" |

### Stage 4
#### 2 September 2021 – Aalter to Ardooie, 166.1 km (103.2 mi)

Stage 4 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Merlier (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | 3h 36' 29" |
| 2 | Mads Pedersen (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 3 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 0" |
| 4 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 0" |
| 5 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 6 | Phil Bauhaus (GER) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 0" |
| 7 | Fernando Gaviria (COL) | UAE Team Emirates | + 0" |
| 8 | Max Walscheid (GER) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 0" |
| 9 | Dylan Groenewegen (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 0" |
| 10 | Fabian Lienhard (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Stefan Bissegger (SUI) | EF Education–Nippo | 11h 01' 24" |
| 2 | Kasper Asgreen (DEN) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 13" |
| 3 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 20" |
| 4 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 20" |
| 5 | Max Walscheid (GER) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 22" |
| 6 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 26" |
| 7 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 26" |
| 8 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 36" |
| 9 | Tim Merlier (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | + 40" |
| 10 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 40" |

### Stage 5
#### 3 September 2021 – Riemst to Bilzen, 188.0 km (116.8 mi)

Stage 5 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Caleb Ewan (AUS) | Lotto–Soudal | 4h 26' 24" |
| 2 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 0" |
| 3 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 0" |
| 4 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 0" |
| 5 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 6 | Tim Merlier (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | + 0" |
| 7 | Mike Teunissen (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 0" |
| 8 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 0" |
| 9 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 10 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Groupama–FDJ | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | 15h 28' 08" |
| 2 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 2" |
| 3 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 6" |
| 4 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 6" |
| 5 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 14" |
| 6 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 16" |
| 7 | Tim Merlier (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | + 20" |
| 8 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 25" |
| 9 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Team DSM | + 26" |
| 10 | Lukas Pöstlberger (AUT) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 28" |

### Stage 6
#### 4 September 2021 – Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve to Houffalize, 207.6 km (129.0 mi)

Stage 6 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 4h 55' 27" |
| 2 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 42" |
| 3 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 42" |
| 4 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Team DSM | + 42" |
| 5 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 42" |
| 6 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 42" |
| 7 | Marc Hirschi (SUI) | UAE Team Emirates | + 42" |
| 8 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 42" |
| 9 | Nikias Arndt (GER) | Team DSM | + 1' 02" |
| 10 | Gianni Vermeersch (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | + 1' 02" |
General classification after Stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 20h 23' 30" |
| 2 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 51" |
| 3 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 53" |
| 4 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 1' 07" |
| 5 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 1' 09" |
| 6 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 1' 09" |
| 7 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 16" |
| 8 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Team DSM | + 1' 33" |
| 9 | Mike Teunissen (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 1' 40" |
| 10 | Kasper Asgreen (DEN) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | + 1' 42" |

### Stage 7
#### 5 September 2021 – Namur to Geraardsbergen, 180.9 km (112.4 mi)

Stage 7 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 3h 50' 56" |
| 2 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 11" |
| 3 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 15" |
| 4 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 22" |
| 5 | Fred Wright (GBR) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 22" |
| 6 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 24" |
| 7 | Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 24" |
| 8 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 24" |
| 9 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Team DSM | + 24" |
| 10 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 24" |
General classification after Stage 7 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 24h 14' 29" |
| 2 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 29" |
| 3 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 1' 14" |
| 4 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 1' 26" |
| 5 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 1' 28" |
| 6 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 1' 30" |
| 7 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 37" |
| 8 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Team DSM | + 1' 54" |
| 9 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 1' 55" |
| 10 | Mike Teunissen (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 2' 01" |

## Classification leadership table

Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Combativity classification | Team classification |
| 1 | Tim Merlier | Tim Merlier | Tim Merlier | Arjen Livyns | Team Bahrain Victorious |
| 2 | Stefan Bissegger | Stefan Bissegger | Stefan Bissegger | Arjen Livyns | Team Qhubeka NextHash |
| 3 | Taco van der Hoorn | Stefan Bissegger | Phil Bauhaus | Luke Durbridge | Team Qhubeka NextHash |
| 4 | Tim Merlier | Stefan Bissegger | Tim Merlier | Arjen Livyns | Team Qhubeka NextHash |
| 5 | Caleb Ewan | Stefan Küng | Tim Merlier | Arjen Livyns | Team Qhubeka NextHash |
| 6 | Sonny Colbrelli | Sonny Colbrelli | Tim Merlier | Arjen Livyns | Team Bahrain Victorious |
| 7 | Matej Mohorič | Sonny Colbrelli | Danny van Poppel | Arjen Livyns | Team Bahrain Victorious |
| Final | Final | Sonny Colbrelli | Danny van Poppel | Arjen Livyns | Team Bahrain Victorious |
* On stage 2, Phil Bauhaus, who was second in the points classification, wore the teal jersey, because first-placed Tim Merlier wore the blue jersey as the leader of the general classification. For the same reason, Tim Merlier wore the teal jersey on stage 3 with Stefan Bissegger as the leader of the general classification.

## Final classification standings

Legend :
* Denotes the winner of the general classification
* Denotes the winner of the points classification
* Denotes the winner of the combativity classification

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 24h 14' 29" |
| 2 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | + 29" |
| 3 | Victor Campenaerts (BEL) | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 1' 14" |
| 4 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 1' 26" |
| 5 | Stefan Küng (SUI) | Groupama–FDJ | + 1' 28" |
| 6 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | + 1' 30" |
| 7 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 37" |
| 8 | Tiesj Benoot (BEL) | Team DSM | + 1' 54" |
| 9 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 1' 55" |
| 10 | Mike Teunissen (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 2' 01" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | 88 |
| 2 | Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 80 |
| 3 | Tim Merlier (BEL) | Alpecin–Fenix | 75 |
| 4 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | 68 |
| 5 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 67 |
| 6 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Bora–Hansgrohe | 63 |
| 7 | Phil Bauhaus (GER) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 53 |
| 8 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Jumbo–Visma | 49 |
| 9 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | 39 |
| 10 | Stefan Bissegger (SUI) | EF Education–Nippo | 30 |

### Combativity classification

Final combativity classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Arjen Livyns (BEL) | Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB | 56 |
| 2 | Luke Durbridge (AUS) | Team BikeExchange | 35 |
| 3 | Thomas Sprengers (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | 27 |
| 4 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Team Bahrain Victorious | 20 |
| 5 | Jack Bauer (NZL) | Team BikeExchange | 20 |
| 6 | Hugo Houle (CAN) | Astana–Premier Tech | 20 |
| 7 | Kasper Asgreen (DEN) | Deceuninck–Quick-Step | 18 |
| 8 | Marc Hirschi (SUI) | UAE Team Emirates | 14 |
| 9 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | 14 |
| 10 | Mathias Norsgaard (DEN) | Movistar Team | 10 |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Team Bahrain Victorious | 72h 47' 35" |
| 2 | Alpecin–Fenix | + 9' 00" |
| 3 | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 10' 15" |
| 4 | Ineos Grenadiers | + 11' 41" |
| 5 | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 14' 02" |
| 6 | UAE Team Emirates | + 17' 51" |
| 7 | Lotto–Soudal | + 19' 28" |
| 8 | Groupama–FDJ | + 27' 42" |
| 9 | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 29' 08" |
| 10 | Team Qhubeka NextHash | + 31' 30" |