Climbers, punchers, time trial specialists and even sprinters, should find their joy on the roads of the 81th Tour of Luxembourg. One thing is certain: the future winner will need to be a complete rider.
 
In a little less than a week, the Škoda Tour LuXembourg will take up its quarters in front of the National Sports and Cultural Centre where the start of the 81st edition will take place.
 
To launch hostilities on Tuesday, 14 September, the peloton will be entitled to a 140 km long first stage drawn to the north of the capital. Before reaching the finish line, judged on Boulevard Konrad Adenauer at the level of the European school, the riders will have had the right to some nice climbs (Gralingen (6.13%), Bourscheid (7.57%) and Stafelter (6.5%)). The punchers should use the final, slight uphill, to go for the stage victory and the first yellow jersey of the event.
 
On Wednesday, 15 September, the peloton will depart from Steinfort, near the Belgian border and head west of the country. After 186,1 km they will arrive in Eschdorf. This second stage promises to be favourable for the climbers. In addition to the “Côte d’Eschdorf (8.42%) which will have to be climbed three times, the day will be marked by four GPM: the slopes of Holtz (5.39%), Boulaide (5.15%), Ringel (5.97%) and Kaundorf (9.41%).
 
After the west, it is the east of the country that will be in the spotlight. On Thursday, 16 September, the third stage will start in Mondorf-les-Bains and head towards Mamer. After 189,3 km marked by the “Côte de Beaufort” (6.39%) and the climbs of Brouderbur (6.15%) and Mariendallerhaff (8.27%), the sprinters should meet up near the house of the former Tour de France winner Nicolas Frantz on the third crossing of the finish line.
 
After the punchers, climbers and sprinters, the time trial specialists will also be entitled to their stage. This 2021 edition of the Škoda Tour LuXembourg marks the return of the time trial which will be held on Friday, 17 September. The last exercise of its kind took place in 2005 near Bettembourg. It’s in Dudelange that the chrono specialists have a date. On the riders’ program will be a 25,4 km and a technical and hilly route. At 13,6km on “Montée de Laangegronn" to the Poteau de Kayl, the intermediate times will be calculated. In short, this is a stage that promises to be decisive in the race for the yellow jersey.
 
The epilogue of the event will take place on Saturday, 18 September with the 5th and final stage which will link Mersch to Luxembourg over the distance of 183,7 km. Like last year, the event will end near the Hall Victor Hugo in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg. The successor of the Italian Diego Ulissi will be known after two local circuits of 11,6 km.