Traditionally held in August, the Eneco Tour 2016 will be held in September to accommodate the Olympics. The stage races, which takes place in Belgium and Holland has announced its route as it seeks to attract the top riders in the world as they prepare for the Worlds in Qatar in October.

"With the one-time extension of the date, we have seized the opportunity afforded by the Olympic Games to [move the race to] the end of September, and make a course tailored for the riders who go to the Worlds in Qatar as everyone knows the parcours is as a flat a billiards table," said race director Rob Discart.

Indeed, the race is flatter than usual and doesn’t feature its usual three stages of mini Amstel Gold, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Tour of Flanders.

Stage one three and four are flat stages that are tailored to the sprinters, two is an individual time trial and five is a team time trial. Six and seven are the mini Amstel Gold Race and Tour of Flanders respectively. 

"We have therefore chosen to provide some flatter stages so that the sprinters can enjoy themselves," Discart added. "The time trial riders can test their legs during the Eneco Tour with a view to the Worlds, including an individual time trial. The team time trial offers an opportunity for the teams to ride together one last time before the Worlds.”

Stage 1 -Bolsward - Bolsward, September 19

Stage 2 - Breda - Breda (ITT), September 20

Stage 3 - Blankenberge - Ardooie, September 21

Stage 4 - Aalter - St-Pieters-Leeuw, September 22

Stage 5 - Sittard-Geleen - Sittard-Geleen (TTT), September 23

Stage 6 - Riemst - Lanaken, September 24

Stage 7 - Bornem - Geraardsbergen, September 25