On Tuesday the SkodaTour LuXembourg started with the first stage covering 163.8 km. With the Niklosbierg (cat.1/4,4 km à 6,1%), the Côte de Bourscheid (HC/3,4 km à 7,6%), the Côte d’Eschdorf (cat.1/2,8 km à 8,4%) and the Côte de Stafelter (cat.1/2,6 km à 5%) there were some difficult climbs to face.

After the start near the Stade de Luxembourg, Gil Gelders (BWB), Antonio Jesus Soto Guirao (EUS), Niklas Eg (UXT), Tom Sexton (BEB), Justin Wolf (LPC) and Kasper Viberg Søgaard (RIW) formed the breakaway of the day and gained a maximum advantage of 5:30.

10 km before the finish line, the breakaway was caught. On the last climb, which was not categorised, Valentin Madouas (GFC) made a decisive attack and won with a lead of 3” over Sjoerd Bax (ADC) and 7” over Clément Berthet (ACT).

Valentin Madouas: “We had a plan and wanted one of our teammates to keep up the pace in the peloton, especially on the climbs, in order to make it hard for our opponents. This allowed us to attack in the last climb. Kevin (Geniets) launched a strong one, which allowed me to counterattack and take the win. Obviously, I want to defend the yellow jersey in the upcoming days.”