The eight-day race includes stages in Holland and Belgium, and celebrates all that is good about northern European cycling: fast sprints, echelons caused by side winds and exciting racing. With a lack of major climbs most of the stages are decided in sprint finish after other riders try desperately to get away in the final kilometres. Former World Champion Tom Boonen won three sprints in the 2006 Eneco Tour, including one in his home town of Balen in northern Belgium, thanks to some slick lead outs in the final kilometers. Other stages went to Italy’s Manuel Quinziato, George Hincapie and David Kopp. Hincapie was favourite for overall victory until a crash in the final hundred metres of the last stage allowed Stefan Schumacher to snatch a time bonus and a controversial overall success. More dramatic racing is expected this year with more sprint finishes in Belgium and Holland, and decisive time trials. The Eneco Tour is perfect preparation for the riders building up for the UCI World Championships and the speed and sprinting will give the riders the skills needed to fight for the rainbow jersey in Stuttgart, Germany.
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