Tour of Luxembourg: Almeida hits entry!

João Almeida starts the Tour of Luxembourg on strong foundations. The Deceuninck-Quick Step Team rider won the first of the five stages of the event on Tuesday, competing in a 140km loop around the Grand Duchy’s capital. Very quickly, a group of six contestants was formed including Lithuanian Evaldas Siskivicius and New Zealander Jack Bauer. While the Lotto-Soudal formation, centered around Caleb Ewan, led the peloton’s rhythm, the Separatists managed to tackle the first three difficulties in the lead. This allowed Belgium’s Kenny Molly to collect enough points to take the lead in ranking the best climber in the event. However, the efforts began to get weighed down, and with 38 kilometers remaining on the road, Evaldas Sisquivicius and Emerson Oronte were left behind by the rest of the separatists.. In the back, the peloton’s speed changed when the Deceuninck-Quick Step team took the lead.

Almeida is too strong to compete

In the process, the formation of AG2R-Citroën, one of the local leaders of the stage Bob Jungels, comes to support the approach of the Côte de Stafelter, whose summit was less than ten kilometers from the finish. The rise of “Earth and Heaven” prepared for Ben O’Connor’s attack. But the fourth round of the last Tour de France did not go far, Fausto Masnada did what was necessary. The last survivor of the breakup, Jack Bauer was caught two kilometers from the goal, while Elie Gisbert tried his luck on his own. In the process, it was David Gaudo who took charge before sucking the 800m from the finish. Everything at that time was ready for a fast sprint, and in this small game, Joao Almeida was the strongest. The Portuguese beat Boque Mollema and Mark Hershey at the finish line, while Clement Champusin finished fourth, ahead of Nairo Quintana. With this first success, João Almeida logically takes the lead in the Tour of Luxembourg’s general classification.

Cycling / Tour of Luxembourg
Phase 1 – Luxembourg – Luxembourg (140 km) – Tuesday 14 September 2021
1. Joao Almeida (POR / Deceuninck-Quick Step) 3:16’09”
2- Buc Mollema (PBS/Trek-Segafredo) Mt.
3- Mark Hershey (SUI / UAE Team Emirates) mt
4- Clément Champoussin (FRA / AG2R-Citroën) MT
5- Nairo Quintana (COL / Arkéa-Samsic) Mt.
6- Jesus Herrada (Spain / Cofides) Mt
7- David Gaudu (FRA / Groupama-FDJ) Mt.
8- Andrea Vendrame (ITA / AG2R-Citroën) Mt.
9- Thibaut Pinot (FRA / Groupama-FDJ) Mt.
10- Kobe Goossens (Belgium / Lotto Soudal) Mt.
…

Overall rating after the first stage (out of 5)
1- João Almeida (POR/ Deceuninck-Quick Step) at 3h15’59”
2- Buck Mollema (PBS/Trek-Segafredo) in 4″
3- Mark Hershey (Switzerland / UAE Team Emirates) at six”
4- Clément Champoussin (FRA / AG2R-Citroën) at 10 inches
5- Nairo Quintana (Cole / Arkia Samsik) at 10 inches
6- Jesus Herrada (Spain/Covides) at 10 inches
7- David Godot (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) at 10 inches
8- Andrea Vendram (ITA / AG2R-Citroën) at 10 inches
9- Thibaut Pinot (FRA / Groupama-FDJ) at 10 inches
10- Kobe Goossens (Belgium / Lotto-Sodal) in 10 inches
…