The cobbles are nothing compared to the Flemish Classics, though. When the route moves through Sint-Niklaas, after some 75 kilometres, the riders face two short stretches. Also, the final circuit is pepped up with, as the Flemish say, ‘kinderhoofdjes’ (children’s heads).
The first passage on the line is at kilometre 141.4 before two laps of 12.3 kilometres close the race. The last stretch of pavé begins almost 5 kilometres before the finish, but is unlikely to spoil a sprint-party. The arrival in in the south of Antwerp on the wide Desguinlei, which is a perfect place for a fast finishers showdown.
Starting at kilometre 163.1, the Golden Kilometre comes with three opportunities to win time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds within 1,000 metres. The first three riders on the line take 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Read also: results/race report 3rd stage 2018 BinckBank Tour.
BinckBank Tour 2018 stage 3: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
