Cycling Competition in Luxembourg: Mattias Skjelmose Resists Jordan Jegat on Final Cobblestone Ascent, Securing Stage 3 Win and General Classification Lead
Mathias Skjelmose Wins Stage 3 of the Tour de Luxembourg
In a thrilling finish, Mathias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) emerged victorious in Stage 3 of the Tour de Luxembourg. The 2.8km Monteé de Niklosbierg, with an average gradient of 9.3%, provided the perfect terrain for a fierce battle among the leading riders.
Skjelmose, who had been maintaining a commanding position throughout the race, increased his lead over Jordan Jegat to 8 seconds. Jegat, from TotalEnergies, and Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates XRG), who remained in third place, finished in second and third place, respectively.
The stage, covering a 170.5km route from Mertert to Vianden, included three closing circuits, each featuring an ascent of the Monteé de Niklosbierg. UAE Team Emirates XRG kept pushing the pace, causing Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) to struggle. Grégoire eventually lost contact with the leaders on the steep climb of the Monteé de Niklosbierg and tumbled out of the top 10.
Søren Kragh Andersen (Lidl-Trek) led a group of 15 riders during the stage. The group included Silvan Dillier and Victor Papon, who initially struggled on the steep slopes but managed to rejoin the group as it passed by. Other riders following this move included Arrieta, Majka, and Torres.
An attack from Brenner and Skjelmose briefly split the lead group, with Majka dropped. However, the duo was soon reeled back in, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
As the race approached the final stretch, Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates XRG) launched an attack with 6.5km to go, managing to gain a seven-second lead. However, Skjelmose, Jegat, and McNulty overtook Hirschi in the final sprint, with Skjelmose crossing the line first. Hirschi came in fourth place, while Jhonatan Narvaez and Berrade completed the top six.
With this victory, Skjelmose now leads the race, with a four-second advantage over Jegat. The competition promises to be intense as the Tour de Luxembourg heads towards its conclusion. Nine riders remain in contention for the overall victory: Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Mattias Skjelmose and Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek), Brandon McNulty and Rafał Majka (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies), Marco Brenner and Mathys Rondel (Tudor Pro Cycling). The final stages are sure to deliver more exciting action as the riders fight for glory in the picturesque landscapes of Luxembourg.
