Skoda Tour de Luxembourg 2014 Stage 2

Matti Breschel claimed stage 2 of this year’s Tour of Luxembourg, beating Sergey Lagutin and Jempy Drucker in an uphill sprint finish in Schifflange today.

However, despite losing today’s stage to Breschel, Drucker (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) took control of the overall race lead, and now takes the yellow jersey from the shoulders of Danny van Poppel.

Race Details

Today’s 157.4 kilometer stage from Rosport to Schifflange, saw the peloton stay together until the first "bonus sprint" – which took place at the 25 kilometer mark. 

The time bonus in the first sprint went to Tinkoff-Saxo’s Michael Mørkøv and Marko Kump, with Drucker taking the final one second point. 

Following the first sprint, a breakaway group containing Boris Dron ( Wallonie-Bruxelles), Rusvelo’s Ilnur Zakarin, Juan Arango (both of Team Colombia) Jacques Janse van Rensburg (MTN-Qhubeka), finally emerged from the field to gain a maximum lead of just over four minutes – before the peloton started reeling them back in.

Indeed, eager to close down the breakaway, and defend their race leader, Danny van Poppel, the Trek Factory Racing team succeeded in bringing the peloton back together during the final 6 kilometers. 

At that point, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Mørkøv, along with his teammate, Breschel, took to the front during the last uphill kilometer to the finish. 

Lotto-Belisol was also there at the front. However, their two hopefuls, Jelle Vanendert and Vegard Breen, both cracked under the duress of the 13% gradient of the final climb. 

Unfortunately for Drucker, who finished second in the prologue and fourth in the first stage, he had to settle for third place today, as Lagutin outsprinted him on the line.

However, as a consolation, Drucker gets to wear the yellow jersey in front of his home crowd tomorrow.