"We had hoped for more today" - 4th on stage 2 not enough for Christophe Laporte and Team Visma | Lease a Bike in Luxembourg

After finishing 2nd on the opening stage of the 2024 Tour de Luxembourg, Christophe Laporte again went close on stage 2, crossing the line in 4th as Mads Pedersen took victory ahead of Mathieu van der Poel in a reduced bunch sprint.

"To be honest, we had hoped for more today," Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Maarten Wynants reflects honestly in a post-stage interview on the team's official website. "Yesterday Christophe was already very close with a second place and today the finish seemed to suit him even better. He chose the right wheel, but unfortunately couldn't ride the sprint he wanted."

"It was a hectic final. There was a descent in the last four kilometres and there was a crash. Because we don't have a lead-out man with us, we knew Christophe had to find his own way in the last kilometre," continues Wynants' assessment of the finale. "Then you need a bit of luck. Unfortunately, that luck was missing today."

As the 2024 Tour de Luxembourg takes on a GC challenge on stage 3, Team Visma | Lease a Bike remain well placed to battle for the race lead, currently held by Van der Poel. "It's hard to say whether Christophe can handle the course. Fortunately, with Bart Lemmen and Wilco Kelderman, we have two guys who are super strong. If it turns out to be too difficult for Christophe, we can always count on them," Wynants concludes optimistically.

2024 Tour de Luxembourg GC after stage 2: