June 3/12 17:45 pm - Tour of Luxembourg: Stage 4and Final GC results, Barry 12th

Posted by Editoress on 06/3/12
 

Jakob Fuglsang has won the General Classification in the Skoda Tour of Luxembourg. Joining Fuglsang on the podium were Wout Poels (Vacansoleil) and teammate Fränk Schleck. The team also earned top honors in the Teams classification, marking a successful week in Luxembourg.

The larger part of the 154 km between Mersch and the old town of Luxembourg City was raced with heavy rain, forcing the organizers to finalize the GC standing after the first passage of the finish line with 47 km left on the menu. The seven remaining laps, each 6.8 km long, would only designate the stage winner.

Radioshack Nissan Trek came to Luxembourg focused on winning the overall on home soil, and the team accomplished their goal in dominating fashion. With a very solid line-up, including four former race winners, the team took responsibility from day one.  Jakob Fuglsang: "The team dedicated themselves to winning, and I really have to thank them all. We had such a strong team here. Working together on all five stages made this possible and I’m so happy it worked out for us.”

After Jakob Fuglsang took the overall lead in yesterday's Queen Stage to Differdange, the team defended the yellow with panache. Kim Andersen: "This win is important to us. First off, we wanted to show our jersey to our home fans and secondly, we wanted to gain confidence ahead of the next months of racing. So far this season has not been a success for us. This victory is a boost to us all and we hope we can continue on this rhythm in the next races.”

The fifth and final day of racing began in Mersch. The 154 kilometer course included the Côte de Bereldange and the Côte de Glabach, before heading back the country's capital and its seven local laps. Radioshack Nissan Trek controlled the pace behind the four leaders (Roelandts (LTB), Stamsnijder (ARG), Casper (ALM) and Gaudin (EUC)), steadily reeling them back before the race passed the finish line for the first of seven times, where the GC was established.

Fuglsang: "I think the organization made the right decision by ending the GC battle at that point. There was a real risk of crashes and everyone was nervous to stay upright. Our team kept control of the chase behind Jurgen Roelandts, who was alone at the front.”  Roelandts attacked his group before entering the circuits and held his advantage to the end of the race, taking the stage win ahead of Ben Swift and Davide Appollonio (Sky).

“Luxembourg is my second home so to win the national tour of Luxembourg is important to the team but also to me,” said Fuglsang.  “Especially after the difficult spring I had with bad luck and injuries.  It’s nice to make a comeback like this.  It was the right decision for me to not start the Giro d’Italia and give my knee more time to heal. Now I have this victory and I am very, very happy.  The team was riding very strong and I have to thank them.”

Radioshack Nissan Trek press release

Results from the fifth and final stage of the Tour of Luxembourg, in Luxembourg