Stage 3: Wiltz – Diekirch, 179.6 kilometres

Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step) won the third stage of the Škoda Tour de Luxembourg alone in Diekirch. The Dutchman finished ahead of Davide Piganzoli (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies), both at 1”.

After a very fast start, including a hard passage on the Montée Um Knupp, a group of ten riders formed after around 30 kilometres, among them Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates XRG). With 60 kilometres to go, some chasers went clear of the peloton and managed to bridge across to the front of the race, bringing the leading group to nineteen riders. That phase was marked by several attempted attacks from the main field.

At the summit of the Montée de Haemerich, 31 kilometres from the finish, the advantage stood at 2’10”. With 15 kilometres to go the peloton, which included the yellow jersey Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), was 4’00” down and no longer attempting to close the gap.

With 10 kilometres remaining, Gachignard, Reinderink and Igor Arrieta Lizarraga (UAE Team Emirates XRG) led the race 15” ahead of a group of eight chasers, in which Piganzoli did a large share of the work. Reinderink then went clear on his own in the final kilometres and held on to the line.

Reinderink also takes the lead in the mountains classification. Politt, for his part, was named the most combative rider of the day.

In the general classification, Piganzoli takes over the yellow jersey. He leads Gachignard by 6” and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) by 9”. 

The reactions

Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step): “I felt incredibly good today. You do not have days like this very often. It was probably the best day of my life on a bike. I was a little afraid of taking on the final kilometres together with my two companions, which is why I attacked before that. When you have the legs for it, you have to make the most of it. This is my first professional win, and it is very emotional.”

Davide Piganzoli (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): “This morning we had planned to put pressure on and at some point bridge across to the front of the race from the main field. It was a very good day. I had hoped for the win, of course, but at a certain point I had the feeling that we would no longer be able to go for the stage win. Our big goal, though, is the victory in the general classification. I think I am in good shape. Tomorrow in the time trial I will give it everything, and then we will see.”