Mauri Vansevenant powers to solo victory on stage 3 at 2024 Tour de Luxembourg taking race lead from Mathieu van der Poel

Soudal - Quick-Step's Mauri Vansevenant has powered to victory on stage 3 of the 2024 Tour de Luxembourg, taking the race lead from Mathieu van der Poel in the process.

Heading into the final 70km, a leading duo of Louis Vervaeke and Johannes Kulset held an advantage of more than three minutes over the peloton. On the Um Knupp climb though, the leading duo became a quartet as Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and Bastien Tronchon. As the latter started the day only 16 seconds off race leader Mathieu van der Poel, suddenly there was a real GC threat in the break. 

Read also

"If he stays at the same level, he probably cannot beat Pogacar anymore" - Visma DS on Jonas Vingegaard, who should not make Giro-Tour double in 2025

UAE Team Emirates were setting a fierce pace on the front of the bunch though and as the break came almost into touching distance, Felix Grossschartner decided to attack the peloton rather than do his turn on the front, quickly bridging the gap to the leaders. After things regrouped again, Mauri Vansevenant became the next man to attack. joined by Davide Formolo.

As Vansevenant and Formolo built up an advantage, a counter attacking trio of Bart Lemmen, Nicolas Prodhomme and Bob Jungels were leading the chase behind. At 10km to go though, the leading duo had nearly a minute lead back to the peloton.

Man in form Marc Hirschi attacked from the peloton with 7km to go, looking to chase down the 47 second deficit to Vansevenant and Formolo. Quickly onto the UAE Team Emirates man's back wheel, was race leader Van der Poel. With 4km to go, Vansevenant broke Formolo and sailed into the lead of the stage solo and into the overall race lead.

Read also

UPDATE: "No serious injury" for Mattias Skjelmose after Tour de Luxembourg crash, keeping World Championship hopes alive

Luke Rowe points toward Egan Bernal as big reason for INEOS' lack of rider budget: "In January of the first year of a four-year contract, he had a horrible injury"