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PREVIEW | Tour de Luxembourg 2024 - Can Mathieu van der Poel beat Hirschi, Cort Nielsen and others?
CyclingTuesday, 17 September 2024 at 18:52
From the 18th to the 22nd of September the peloton will tackle the Tour de Luxembourg. The five-day stage-race in the small central European nation features plenty explosive stages which will serve as perfect preparation for the World Championships. We preview the race ahead.
The five-day race will consist of four hilly days and a small time-trial on stage 4. The overall classification can truly be decided on any day as there is terrain to make differences; and without big mountains most riders are expected to be relatively close to each other.
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Stage 1: Luxembourg (Knuelder) - Luxembourg (Feschmaart), 158.7 kilometers
The first day of the race is already hilly and quite difficult. Throughout the stage there are a few tough ascents but all efforts will likely be saved for the finale. There will be a 1.8-kilometer climb averaging almost 9% that ends with less than 10 kilometers to go where attacks should come... But then also an uphill finish and a 300-meter ramp to the line that is at 10% and should make for a thrilling slow-motion sprint.
Stage 2: Junglinster - Schifflange, 155.2 kilometers
Stage 2 is not as hard as the opening day, and perhaps even the "easiest" stage of the week. It features only 155 kilometers and not too much climbing throughout the day. The finale will be in the town of Schifflange after a small three-lap circuit. This features a flat finale but a 900-meter ramp at 7% that summits with only 4 kilometers to go.
Stage 3: Resport - Diekrich, 202.3 kilometers
Stage 3 is a proper tough day. 202 kilometers and 3800 meters of climbing without the presence of a single long ascent. Early in the day there is plenty climbing to create fatigue but it's in the final 30 kilometers that there are no fewer than small and explosive climbs - which will be a proper test for the World Championships.
1.1Km at 7.4% and then two laps of a circuit with three ascents: 1.4Km at 8.3%; 800 meters at 9.9% and 1.1 at 7.4%. All these climbs are packed into a very intense few kilometers with only descending inbetween and no opportunity to organize; and only 1 flat final kilometer where most riders will come in alone or in small groups.
Stage 4 (ITT): Differdange - Differdange, 15.6 kilometers
Stage 4 is the race's time-trial which takes place in the city of Differdange. It is 15.6 kilometers long but it is not exactly one for the specialists as it also involves some climbing. There will be a 1.3-kilometer long ascent at over 8% before a plateau section that antecedes the downhill finale back to town.
Stage 5: Mersch - Luxembourg (Limpertsbeg), 177.7 kilometers
The final stage of the race sees the riders return to Luxembourg. It's a day where dangerous attacks can come right from the start taking into consideration that it's the final day of racing and last opportunity to do damage in the overall classification.
In the 177 kilometers there are 3100 meters of climbing and this will prove to be a tough challenge for anyone to control the race. There will then be a three-lap final circuit with an 800-meter ramp at 5.7% and finally a 800-meter ramp at 9.2% that ends almost in sight of the line.
Prediction 2024 Tour de Luxembourg overall classification:
*** Marc Hirschi, David Gaudu
** Mattias Skjelmose, Mathieu van der Poel, Magnus Cort Nielsen, Valentin Madouas
* Juan Ayuso, Finn Fisher-Black, Soren Kragh Andersen, Antonio Tiberi, Laurence Pithie, Mads Pedersen, Christophe Laporte, Wilco Kelderman, Michael Storer, Damien Howson
Pick: Marc Hirschi
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