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Laporte sprints to fourth place in second stage Skoda Tour de Luxembourg

Laporte sprints to fourth place in second stage Skoda Tour de Luxembourg

Christophe Laporte just missed out on a podium spot in the second stage of the Skoda Tour de Luxembourg. The 31-year-old Frenchman got boxed in the narrow finishing street and had to settle for fourth place. In the general classification, Laporte retained his second place.

The day before the queen stage, the peloton was presented with a relatively easy 155 km stage. Two riders formed the breakaway, but thanks in part to Tosh Van der Sande, the duo's adventure came to an end early. On the local circuit in Schifflange everything stayed together, after which a bunch sprint had to decide who would take the stage win.

Mads Pedersen proved to be the fastest,  Laporte sprinted to fourth place. "To be honest, we had hoped for more today", sports director Maarten Wynants said. "Yesterday Christophe was already very close with a second place and today the finish seemed to suit him even better. He chose the right wheel, but unfortunately couldn't ride the sprint he wanted."

"You need a bit of luck. Unfortunately, that luck was missing today."

Maarten Wynants

According to Wynants, this is explainable. "It was a hectic final. There was a descent in the last four kilometres and there was a crash. Because we don't have a lead-out man with us, we knew Christophe had to find his own way in the last kilometre. Then you need a bit of luck. Unfortunately that luck was missing today."

Tomorrow is the queen stage. According to Wynants, Team Visma | Lease a Bike will once again compete for the stage win. "It's hard to say whether Christophe can survive the course. Fortunately, with Bart Lemmen and Wilco Kelderman, we have two other guys who are super strong too. If it turns out to be too difficult for Christophe, we can count on them."

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Skoda Tour de Luxembourg

Stage 2

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