Results Tour de Luxembourg 2026 Stage 3 - Pepijn Reinderink goes solo and holds off heroic Davide Piganzoli in breathtaking stage
CyclingFriday, 18 September 2026 at 18:23
A hugely exciting third stage of the 2026 Tour de Luxembourg saw Pepijn Reinderink go solo from a 19-rider strong breakaway and hold off a remarkable Davide Piganzoli ride behind - with the Italian leaving Mathieu van der Poel in the peloton and bridge a gap of over two minutes in the final 25 kilometres.
Stage 3 from Wiltz to Diekirch was a different day the previous ones, with short but very explosive climbs towards the finale, which also features a final circuit. The overall classification underwent big chances on the third day of racing.
In the circuit itself, which was tackled twice, there will be three climbs: 1.8Km at 6.1% (12Km to go); 700 meters at 8% (7Km to go); and 1.1Km at 7.2% (3Km to go). From the last one to the finish there is only a short descent and a fast run-in to the line.
Mathieu van der Poel was the big favourite of the day, but a remarkably strong breakaway got up the road and would prove a hard catch for the bunch - maintaining a lead of almost two minutes with 50 kilometres to go and the circuit looming.
That group was headlined by Nils Politt, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Leo Hayter, Noah Ramsay, Antoine L'Hote, Gil Gelders, Pep Reinderink, Pietro Mattio and Pierre Thierry in the early break before a group of around 10 riders broke free in chase.
Strong breakaway bolstered by shasers joining the front
The chasers included igor Arrieta, Matteo Vercher, Aurelian Paret-Peintre, Sam Oomen and Timo Kierlich as a dangerous situation of over 19 riders gathering at the front.
Van der Poel certainly wouldn't have liked the situation unfolding as those groups merged into 19-rider strong breakaway headed to the circuit with almost 2:30 of a gap - powered by three Visma riders and Arrieta joining Politt for UAE.
As the race hit the first lap of two on the finish circuit, the attackers boasted a gap of over two minutes as they began to attack eachother. Behind, Davide Piganzoli and Soren Kragh Andersen launched a counter in chase of the front.
With small amounts of flat on the circuit, both the break and peloton split into fragments as van der Poel began to show himself and attempt to bridge over to the duo in attack.
Piganzoli left behind Kragh Andersen as he gave chase to the front of the race, which seemingly constantly attacked eachother. He was making inroads as a Visma rider dropped back to assist, reaching 1:13 behind the front with 18 kilometres to go. Behind, a peloton stalemate saw the peloton stay around two minutes back.
Several riders attacked from the front, with Lukas Nerurkar, Igor Arrieta, Goal Sevanckx, Pepijn Reinderink and Matteo Vercher using the punchy climbs to whittle down the group to 12 riders - but Piganzoli closing in as Timo Kielich dropped back to help his case.
Davide Piganzoli
Attacking penultimate lap sees race break up
As the race crossed for the final lap, Reinderink and Arrieta built a lead over 15 seconds on the remnants of the breakaway and 53 seconds ahead of Piganzoli. Further back, it appeared as the peloton - including Mathieu van der Poel - were out of the equation.
Thomas Gachignard soon bridged across to the duo out front while Piganzoli impressively caught the main remaining breakaway group - reeling in a a gap of over two minutes, but still behind the leading trio.
Tijmen Graat, Visma's last rider remaining in the break, drove the pace for Piganzoli with 10 kilometres to go . Piganzoli made his move a few kilometres later as Reinderink went solo over the top of the penultimate climb of the day.
With three riders still in his wheel, Piganzoli caught a dropping Arrieta and had just two riders now left in his sights with 6 kilometres to go. Reinderink started the final ascent of the day with 19 seconds of a lead but Piganzoli again turned the screw alongside Eike Behrens - who once again impressed after his opening opening stage performance.
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With 3 kilometres to go, Reinderink went over the top alone just seconds ahead of Piganzoli and the TotalEnergies duo of Vercher and Gachignard.
The 24-year-old went all-in under the Flamme Rouge in a battling display as he dramatically held off the chasing trio - taking his first professional win in dramatic style. Piganzoli finished second behind to take the leader's jersey thanks to bonus seconds.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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