2024-09-20 16:18:20
Published on September 20, 2024 at 6:18 p.m.
New leader of the Tour du Luxembourg after his victory in the queen stage (3rd stage) this Friday, Mauri Vansevenant does not hide the fact that he will have a lot of trouble keeping his jersey on Saturday during the time trial, which is anything but one of his specialties.
Wearing the leader’s jersey two days before the final finish. Mauri Vansevenant allowed himself the right to dream of victory in the Tour du Luxembourg on Friday by winning the queen stage and at the same time dislodging Mathieu van der Poel from first place in the general classification. But the dream may no longer be an issue on the evening of the 4th stage this Saturday. The organizers have in fact reserved a 15.5-kilometer time trial for the riders (around Differdange). However, this exercise is not at all one of the new leader’s specialties, who made no secret of it on Friday and even had trouble being convincing when Eurosport journalists asked him if he thought he had a chance of keeping his jersey at the end of this time trial. The person concerned would very much like to, but he seriously doubts it, aware of his potential in this field. “I’ll go all out of course, but it’s not really my specialty, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay at the top of the general classification.” If that’s not the case, the Belgian won’t make a big deal out of it, because his Tour of Luxembourg has already been a success. And almost beyond all his hopes given the form in which the 49th in the last Tour of Spain started last Wednesday in Luxembourg.
Vansevenant: “On my last attack, I went all out”
“I have achieved my goal with this stage victory and it’s perfect (…) I have already done the Vuelta, I was not very well during these three days, I did not feel very fresh, I was tired, but I never stopped believing in it. I knew that I still had energy, but to win like I did today (Friday), it’s really good.” As soon as he understood that he had the legs, the climber of the Soudal-Quick Step team, already at the front, gave everything to win this queen stage. And for him, it was unimaginable to have a chance of achieving his goal to present himself at the line alongside his breakaway comrade: the Italian Davide Formolo. The future winner therefore did everything to get rid of him. “I didn’t want to take any risks, he wasn’t really passing the baton, so I didn’t want to risk finding myself playing for the win with him. That’s why on my last attack, I really went all out.” He will also give his all on Friday during the time trial, hoping that this will allow him to spend one more day in yellow.
1726850798
#Cycling #Tour #LuxembourgVansevenant #jersey
