Mathieu van der Poel tests his legs ahead of the Montreal World Championships and wins the opening stage of the Tour de Luxembourg held with start and finish in the city of Luxembourg. The Dutch rider from Alpecin - Premier Tech claimed victory ahead of Frenchman Pierre Gautherat of Decathlon CMA CGM Team and Marijn van den Berg of EF Education - EasyPost on the slightly uphill finish line. Seventh place for Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Soudal Quick-Step) and tenth for Davide Piganzoli (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). Van der Poel, who had already won on this finish line in 2024, can also celebrate taking the overall race lead.

THE STAGE - The action that animated the opening part of the day was initiated by Cole Kessler (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling), Fábio Costa (Feira dos Sofás – Boavista), Ruud Junior Nagengast (Metec), Noé Ury (Team Storck - MRW Bau) and Malte Hellerup (Team ColoQuick). The breakaway unraveled as the kilometers passed and the peloton regrouped twelve kilometers from the finish, when Malte Hellerup threw in the towel.

A couple of kilometers later, at the Côte de Stafelter climb, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin - Premier Tech), with one of his characteristic accelerations, moved to the front, gaining around ten seconds on the group. Only the courageous 21-year-old German Eike Behrens (Team Lotto Kern-Haus Outlet Montabaur) stayed with the rainbow jersey wearer, but after a few kilometers at full pace, van der Poel eased up and the group quickly regrouped.

Time to catch their breath, move up positions, let the rivals tire themselves out, and then another attack, a sprint uphill and his seventh victory of the season.

Tomorrow the Tour de Luxembourg will depart from Niederkorn and head towards Junglinster where, after 166 kilometers, the second stage will conclude.

STAGE RESULTS

1 van der Poel Mathieu Alpecin - Premier Tech 03:45:42

2 Gautherat Pierre Decathlon CMA CGM Team ,,

3 van den Berg Marijn EF Education - EasyPost ,,

4 Hagenes Per Strand Team Visma | Lease a Bike 00:02

5 Stuyven Jasper Soudal Quick-Step ,,

6 Raccagni Noviero Andrea CIC Pro Cycling Academy ,,

7 Mariault Axel Soudal Quick-Step ,,

8 Vercher Mattéo TotalEnergies ,,

9 Breuillard Nicolas TotalEnergies ,,

10 Piganzoli Davide Team Visma | Lease a Bike ,,