The 2007 Eneco Tour, which used to be known as the Benelux Tour is held from August 22 - 29 and takes the riders through Belgium and the Netherlands. It began with a 5.1km Prologue Time Trial through Hasselt in Belgium.

Stage 1 is over 189.5km from Waremme to Eupen in Belgium over an undulating course that incorporates 3 categorised climbs, although the 3rd climb comes at the 132km mark, plenty of time for any attacks to be chased down. That being said, taking a look at the profile suggests that there are a few tough climbs following the official King of the Mountain climbs.

The Cofidis team have continued their strong showing in the Eneco with Nick Nuyens taking the stage victory and, along with it, the leader's jersey. 

Almost immediately after the riders got underway an attack was launched and 4 riders got themselves into it. They were Tom Stubbe (Chocolat Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen), Maarten Den Bakker (Skil-Shimano), Benat Albizuri (Euskaltel) and Martin Pedersen (Team CSC). Their lead was allowed to grow out to around 6' 30" before the Rabobank team and the Cofidis team began to get busy with around 90km to go and began to reel the 4 escapees back in.

Once the race entered the rolling hills of the Ardennes the peloton swamped the early leaders and ascending the final classified climb of the day another lead group formed, this time much larger (around 19 riders). With a lack of organisation they allowed the second group track them down as they made their way to the next big climb swelling the lead group to around 50.

Virtually the moment the chasers made contact another attack went off the front and the pace was solid all the way in from there. The course ended in a 16km circuit that gave the riders a good look at the finish line before they headed out for a final lap.

With 10km to go a group of 7 riders moved clear, the group consisted of David Millar (Saunier Duval), Nick Nuyens (Cofidis), Leif Hoste (Predictor - Lotto), Thomas Dekker (Rabobank), Jurgen Vandenbroeck (Predictor - Lotto), Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse D'Epargne), Christophe Riblon (AG2R Prevoyance). They would end up fighting out the final desperate sprint and it was Nick Nuyens who was able to muster the strength to throw himself over the finish line first ahead of Dekker and Gutierrez.

You've got to feel sorry for Vladimir Gusev (Discovery Channel). His bad luck started with a punctured rear tyre and he hadn't long reintegrated with the peloton when he found himself with a front wheel puncture. A quick wheel change courtesy of a team-mate and he was back in the chasing group. Then, when the pace was really on with about 7km to go he was involved in a nasty little crash that ended up losing him around 4 minutes and a good chunk of skin from his right butt cheek. 

Stage 1 Results (Top 10)

1 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone               4.42.38 (40.22 km/h)
2 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                                                       s.t.
3 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                      s.t.
4 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                                       s.t.
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                            0.06
6 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                                                   0.09
7 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                                   0.13
8 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - Fondital                                   0.24
9 Paul Martens (Ger) Skil - Shimano                                                   s.t.
10 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir                          s.t.           

Overall GC Standings (Top 10)

1 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone               4.48.39
2 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                                                     0.10
3 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                   0.17
4 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                                     0.19
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                            0.25
6 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor - Lotto                                                    0.37
7 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                                    0.38
8 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                                                       0.44
9 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quickstep - Innergetic                                0.49
10 Paul Martens (Ger) Skil - Shimano                                               s.t.

Points Classification

1 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                    38 pts
2 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                    35
3 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                                                     25

Mountains Classification

1 Martin Pedersen (Den) Team CSC                                                  15 pts
2 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Skil - Shimano                                     6
3 Tom Stubbe (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - Topsport Vlaanderen     4

Teams

1 Predictor-Lotto                                      14.27.32
2 Rabobank                                                       0.19
3 Caisse d'Epargne                                           1.01