Skjelmose won the Tour Luxembourg, Madouas won the final stage

Dane defended the yellow in the second fight

09/17/2022 | (rsn) – In a thrilling final down to the last meters, Mattias Skjelmose (Trek – Segafredo) defended the yellow jersey on the final day of the 82nd Tour of Luxembourg (2.Pro) and secured his first victory. occupation. At the end of the fifth stage over 178.4 kilometers from Mersch to Luxembourg in the Papierberg, the 21-year-old Dane was just beaten by Valentin Madouas (Groupama – FDJ) in the leading group of four in the race. His compatriot Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa – Samsic) was third on the day ahead of Kevin Geniets (Groupama – FDJ) from Luxembourg.

“I’m very happy about the victory and the team, which did a great job. I didn’t win the general classification, but I won two stages. I’m very happy with that,” said Madouas, who won his first race and just handed the yellow jersey to Skjelmose in yesterday’s time trial. The 26-year-old now travels to Australia, where he wants to fight for gold at the World Road Championships. “I feel good, I won here twice. My level is good. We have a strong French team and I hope to win the championship,” he declared confidently.

“I know that credit can end up being tough. I am very happy. SkodaTour Luxembourg is a big race, I couldn’t be better prepared for the World Championship, “Skjelmose, who won his first professional victory in the time trial, but won the final stage with a lead of only three seconds to Vauquelin. . But thanks to the bonus for the third place, he was able to expand a little. Now the overall winner, like Madouas, is heading to the Road World Championships, where he wants to put his top form to the test.

Three seconds behind, Italy’s Matteo Trentin (UAE Emirates Team) maintained fifth place from the first group running ahead of France’s Axel Laurance (B&B Hotels – KTM). Frankfurt’s Jason Osborne (Alpecin – Deceuninck) was involved in a crash before the final climb of the day, finishing 3:39 and dropping from 6th to 40th in the final table.

In the overall table, Skjelmose is five seconds ahead of Vauquelin, Madouas (+0:17) exchange positions with Bax (+0:23) and complete the podium. Trentin won the points classification, Spaniard Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural) won the mountain classification, Skjelmose was also honored as the best young driver.

Here’s how the contest goes:

The Austrian Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën), Bergkönig Nicolau, the Frenchman Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels – KTM) and the Belgian Sander Armée (Cofidis) broke away after just a few kilometers in the final stage of this year’s Tour of Luxembourg, which shows. Four classification of mountains. However, they did not take the lead for more than 2:40 minutes from the field on the mountain. The 24-year-old Gall, 2:12 minutes behind the best escapees in the classification, not only took the first two mountain prizes, but also the virtual yellow jersey.

At the third climb, Côte de Kautenbach (HC), Nicolau increased his number by five points, at Côte de Misärshaff (Cat 1), which he also won after 110 km, three more were added. Then Nicolau reached his goal and was the first of the four escapees who fell about 40 kilometers from the finish line.

The field, mainly led by Trek – Segafredo, controlled the event and let Julius van den Berg (Groupama – FDJ) go in the last 33 kilometers. In the circuit, which includes a length of 700 meters but is steeper than 9 percent of the Peyerberg, the leading group of three initially maintained a lead of almost two minutes through the field, while Van den Berg had only one minute that the three approached and. was recaptured shortly thereafter.

Osborne’s class hopes were shattered on the pavement

With 25 kilometers to go, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl picked up the pace of the followers shortly before crossing the Papierberg for the first time. In the corner before the climb, the rear position was immediately damaged, among others, Osborne, who was in sixth place, landed on the asphalt.

At the first crossing of the finish line, which followed two more laps of twelve kilometers, the gap was reduced to one minute. Gall’s team-mate Clément Berthet attacked with 19km to go, but was caught 6km later at the second checkpoint of Papierberg. Gall shook his two pairs almost at the same time and started the final lap ten seconds ahead of Rolland and Armée and half a minute ahead of the field.

The Junior World Champion 2015 defended himself with all his strength in the last ten kilometers against the chasing group, in the head of Trek, Groupama and UAE turned and initially found Rolland and Armée three kilometers from the finish. Gall held out until the end of the climb before he was caught 1.2 kilometers from the finish. Madouas immediately launched his attack, which his teammates Geniets, Skjelmose and Vauquelin were able to follow.

The Yellow Bib was the first to compete on the inside through the last corner and started the sprint, which Madouas won before Skjelmose and Vauquelin.

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