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Tour de Luxembourg 2023 (September 20-24)

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.

2023-06-12-SKODA-TOUR-LUXEMBOURG-Profil-etape_Etape_1.png


Putscheid
mur-de-putscheid-stolzenbourg.png


Bourscheid (first 3.6k only)
Bourscheid-east.png


Eschdorf
eschdorf-esch-sur-sure.png


Stafelter
LpIHPTg.png


Kirchberg + finish
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Stage 2: Mondorf-les-Bains - Mamer, 183.9k
The only sprint opportunity. There are very few sprinters here, though.
2023-06-12-SKODA-TOUR-LUXEMBOURG-Profil-etape_Etape_2-e1690960778560.png


Beaufort (final 3.5k only)
beaufort-grundhof.png


Colmar-Berg
montee-du-chateau-de-berg-colmar-berg.png


Mariendallerhaff
mariendallerhaff.png


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.

2023-06-12-SKODA-TOUR-LUXEMBOURG-Profil-etape_Etape_3-e1690963279861.png


Munshausen (final 3.0k only)
munshausen-drauffelt.png


Niklosbierg
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Finish
lTECS4d.png

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!
2023-06-12-SKODA-TOUR-LUXEMBOURG-Profil-etape_Etape_4-e1690959452897.png

Kalebierg (final 1.6k only)
kalebierg-schack.png


Rommeboesch
rommeboesch-clemency.png


Rébierg
rebierg-kahler.png

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