The Eneco Tour is a multi-stage race held in the Low Countries, renowned for its flat, sprint-friendly parcours that typically rewards fast finishers and teams with strong lead-out trains. Contested at 2.1 level, the race attracts quality sprinters and all-rounders, with the general classification often decided by bonus seconds and time trial margins rather than summit finishes. The flat profile means sprint specialists will dominate stage wins, while riders with a solid time trial can accumulate time advantages in any individual effort against the clock.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Tim Merlier stands alone at the top. His dominance in recent flat and sprint-finish races — four wins including major stage victories — combined with the best pure sprint in this field makes him the clear and obvious number one. Soudal Quick-Step will organise a lead-out for him, and barring a mechanical or tactical mishap, he should be the benchmark every other team plans around.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Tim Merlier is the standout favourite on every metric available: the strongest sprint in the field, and a dominant recent run in similar flat-profile races that includes wins in stage 1 of the Omloop van het Houtland, stage 1 of the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, stage 2 of the Tour of Britain, and stage 12 of the Tour de France. With five top-3 finishes and six top-10s in similar races, he is operating at a level no one else in this startlist can match.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Max Walscheid and Jason Tesson both arrive with a win apiece in similar-profile races recently and the track records to threaten on any flat finish. Walscheid's versatility gives him an edge in a multi-stage format, while Tesson's volume of top-10s shows he is consistently there when it matters. Either could capitalise if Merlier is isolated or caught out.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Jason Tesson has proven his form on flat stages emphatically, winning stage 2 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes and banking two top-3s and seven top-10s in similar races. He has the volume of recent flat-race activity to suggest his form is no fluke, and represents one of TotalEnergies' best chances for a result here.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Max Walscheid has been one of the most consistent performers in flat-profile races recently, taking a win in stage 3 of the ZLM Tour and adding three top-3s and seven top-10s in similar events. His well-rounded profile — particularly strong in sprint and time trial — makes him a genuine threat across any stage format the Eneco Tour throws up.
★★
Dark Horses
Danny van Poppel and Dylan Groenewegen are proven sprint-stage winners at the highest level, and their recent top-3 finishes in flat races confirm their finishing speed remains sharp. Davide Donati is the wildcard: a single recent win in a similar race with minimal sample is enough to warrant attention, and as a less-heralded name he may benefit from being underestimated by rival teams.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Danny van Poppel is a seasoned sprinter with two top-3s and four top-10s in comparable flat races recently, and his sprint ability ranks among the best in this field. Red Bull–BORA will be keen to deliver him to the line in good shape.
Red Bull Rookies
Red Bull Rookies
Davide Donati is a dark-horse pick after winning stage 6 of the CRO Race in his most recent similar-profile outing, converting his only top-10 opportunity in that sample into a win. His sprint ability is respectable for this field, and the Red Bull Rookies setup gives him the freedom to express that pace without heavy team obligations.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Dylan Groenewegen brings a strong pedigree and two top-3 finishes in similar-profile races recently, showing his finishing speed is still very much there. A clean lead-out from Unibet Rose could see him push Merlier all the way.
★
Ones to Watch
Tim van Dijke, Gerben Thijssen, Steffen De Schuyteneer, and Ethan Hayter round out the selection as riders with realistic top-10 prospects rather than outright stage-win favouritism. Van Dijke and Thijssen have the sprint credentials to sneak a podium, De Schuyteneer is quietly consistent, and Hayter's GC versatility across flat and TT stages could accumulate enough bonus seconds and time gains to threaten the overall classification.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Ethan Hayter is an intriguing pick given his excellent time trial ability alongside a usable sprint, and he has a top-3 finish in a similar-profile race recently. In a multi-stage format like the Eneco Tour GC, his versatility across flat and TT stages gives him outsider appeal beyond pure sprint stages.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Gerben Thijssen has three top-10s in similar-profile races recently without quite breaking through for a podium, but Alpecin-Premier Tech is a strong sprint squad and Thijssen's natural speed makes him a credible outside bet for a high placing.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Steffen De Schuyteneer has quietly accumulated two top-10s in recent flat-race outings and has a sprint capable of competing with the mid-tier of this field. At Lotto Intermarché he may also benefit from experienced team support.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Tim van Dijke has a top-3 and two top-10s in similar flat races recently and offers an additional option for Red Bull–BORA alongside van Poppel. His well-rounded profile means he can also play a key lead-out role if needed.
Verdict
Tim Merlier is the overwhelming favourite, backed by four wins in similar flat-profile races in the past 90 days and the most potent sprint in the startlist; the key challengers are Max Walscheid and Jason Tesson, both of whom have shown they can win on courses like this and will push hard whenever Merlier can be caught off guard.