Tour de Luxembourg 2023 (September 20-24)

[Devil's Elbow]

Zero WT teams in 2019, cars on the route everywhere in 2020, and then this race had a massive glowup. With the new slot and improved routes, it’s not only one of the last stage races of the season worth anything, but also an interesting prep race for Lombardia. Hence why we have no fewer than 12 WT teams this year.

Startlist

The route

Stage 1: Luxembourg - Luxembourg, 156.4k
Just like in the past two years, the race starts with a stage ending with the Stafelter-Kirchberg finale. It’s never decisive, but always gives a good indication of who’s going to be up there.

Spoiler: Climbs

Putscheid

Bourscheid (first 3.6k only)

Eschdorf

Stafelter

Kirchberg + finish

Stage 2: Mondorf-les-Bains - Mamer, 183.9k
The only sprint opportunity. There are very few sprinters here, though.

Spoiler: Climbs

Beaufort (final 3.5k only)

Colmar-Berg

Mariendallerhaff

The final circuit is mostly on the same roads as in the 2021 stage, which was the final victory of Sacha Modolo’s career, however they are bypassing most of the climb in Kehlen. The final kilometre, averaging 2%, is the same.

Stage 3: Mertert - Vianden, 168.4k
The queen stage. There are lots of hard climbs in the Vianden area; we’re seeing just the one here, but three ascents of it should shred the peloton.

Spoiler: Climbs

Munshausen (final 3.0k only)

Niklosbierg

Finish

Stage 4: Pétange - Pétange, 23.9k
Behold: the reason why the climber-puncheurs need to shred the peloton on the Vianden stage. It’s hilarious to me that Andy Schleck is responsible for this - it’s longer than the Tour TT!

Spoiler: Climbs

Kalebierg (final 1.6k only)

Rommeboesch

Rébierg

Stage 5 will be in the next post due to the image limit.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Stage 5: Mersch - Luxembourg, 177.2k
Final stage, and it’s the same circuit as the past two years. Can anyone upset the apple cart?

Spoiler: Climbs

Scheuerhof

Nommern

Gralingen

Kautenbach

Weltzerstroos

Derenbach

Walwa

Chapelle Fatima

Bigonville

Final circuit

 

[Samamba]

Not that PCS startlist quality says everything but this one is really close to the most stacked non-WT stage races (Valenciana and Algarve). It is by far the most stacked non WT stage race in the 2nd part of the season. Certain WT stage races even have a less stacked field.

Parcours is also really good, even tho the TT is maybe a bit too long and decisive. Atleast it was the last 2 years, let's see how hard stage 3 is cause that could be a massacre depending on the weather and how hard it is raced.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The queen stage is legitimately nuts - they do the climb below three times in the final 50k and they finish quite literally inside the castle of Vianden (which you should definitely visit if you ever go to Luxembourg).

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm gonna need someone to do me a huge favour tomorrow:
Release a herd of goats on the route! That should delay them a little.

Why are they set to finish so early?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

McNulty the biggest favorite here because of the long ITT?

 

[Landeirovic]

Yes i think so. Hirschi in Renewi Tour was 3e flat ITT. Him shape is super and the parcours is hilly.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Yes i think so. Hirschi in Renewi Tour was 3e flat ITT. Him shape is super and the parcours is hilly.

13th, not 3rd. Slight difference.

It’s also a good route for Van Wilder, Healy and Jorgenson, although I’m not sure whether the latter two have the form.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Pinot, Gaudu and Fuglsang are all out of the race.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Pinot, Gaudu and Fuglsang are all out of the race.

Dropped or DNF?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Dropped or DNF?

DNF.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1704490521178124389

View: https://twitter.com/GroupamaFDJ/status/1704490521178124389

https://twitter.com/x/status/1704490123587395740

View: https://twitter.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1704490123587395740

 

[IndianCyclist]

. FullStop- Pinot

 

[Tim Cahill]

Woods may aswell just go, he's losing packets in the tt so needs time anywhere he can get.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Fausto looks so attentive

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Woods may aswell just go, he's losing packets in the tt so needs time anywhere he can get.

But the team might be working for Teuns and/or Strong today.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Masnada pulling on the front. And the attackers is caught incredibly quickly. Typical

 

[RedheadDane]

Strong sprint!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Strong just loves the end of the season, just like last year he's stepped it up massively since the start of September.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Fausto top 10! Fausto top 10!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!


Fausto did all the work for his teammates, found excellent possiition in the final , which was explosive and didn't suit him, did the leadout for van Welder, and still beat him. Huge performance

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Looked like Strong blocked Ulisse there

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Looked like Strong blocked Ulisse there

He went the way the road went, not his fault there was a curve in the final 200 metres.

 

[Didinho]

Fausto top 10! Fausto top 10!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!


Fausto did all the work for his teammates, found excellent possiition in the final , which was explosive and didn't suit him, did the leadout for van Welder, and still beat him. Huge performance

I’m putting all my money on him for Lombardia. Thanks for the tip!

 

[staubsauger]

Kinda weird stage.

They nearly reeled in the breakaway and significantly reduced the bunch quite early on, only to keep it calm in the final.

 

[Rob5091]

Shame for Pinot & Gaudu going home early - illness of some sort. Hope Pinot can make il Lombardia. Good win for IPT & Strong - they need some encouragement.

 

[tobydawq]

Fausto top 10! Fausto top 10!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!


Fausto did all the work for his teammates, found excellent possiition in the final , which was explosive and didn't suit him, did the leadout for van Welder, and still beat him. Huge performance

Van Wilder