The 2021 Eurométropole Tour was the 80th edition of the Eurométropole Tour and the fifth edition since it became a one day race. It was held on 29 September 2021 as part of the 2021 UCI Europe Tour and the 2021 UCI ProSeries calendars.[2] This edition was the race's first in the UCI ProSeries; the 2020 edition was expected to feature in the inaugural UCI ProSeries but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The race was originally scheduled for 2 October, but after Paris–Roubaix was postponed to 3 October, race organisers decided to reschedule the race in order to attract a more competitive field.[4]
The race, which took place in Walloon Belgium near the border with France, featured a hilly route covering 177.6 kilometres (110.4 mi).[1] The first 103.5 kilometres (64.3 mi) of the race saw riders travel west from the start in La Louvière to the finish city of Tournai, traversing one sprint point in Lessines (Souvenir Criquielion) and five short but steep hills. Once the race reached Tournai, riders then completed five laps of a 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) circuit around the city, with each lap featuring an ascent of the Col de la Croix Jubaru.[5] Additionally, each passage through the finish line before the end of the race was a sprint point; in order, these were the Souvenirs Duquennoy, Weylandt, Demoitié, Rossolini, and Dubois. Each of the six souvenirs was named after a deceased figure in cycling. The first four were professional cyclists: Criquielion and Duquennoy died of illness, while Weylandt and Demoitié were fatally injured in separate racing incidents. Rossolini was an announcer at several cycling events, including the Tour de France, while Dubois was a media reporter.[4][6]
^"Parcours" [Route]. Eurométropole Tour (in French). Royal Cazeau Pédale de Templeuve. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
