The time trial/prologue that kicked off the 2019 Skoda Tour de Luxembourg was short and intense, as usual.
The temperatures were pleasant enough on Wednesday evening, but the air was certainly muggy as the 17 teams departed the time trial at 7pm. Whilst no world tour team is participating this year, there were 13 pro continental teams and a Luxembourgish national team forming a total of 116 cyclists.
Amongst the Luxembourgers representing the country are Pit Leyder, Tom Wirtgen, and Kevin Geniets.
RTL Today will be showing each stage of the race live, which you'll be able to find on our website before each race starts.
The route through the capital had to be adapted slightly compared to previous years in light of roadworks. The time trial started in the Péitruss valley and continued through the capital's roads all the way until Place Guillaume II. First over the finish line was the Frenchman Christophe Laporte. Last year, Laporte took a fall during the time trial.
Laporte had one second on the next cyclist, German Marcel Meisen. In third place followed Belgian Piet Allegaert. Previous two-time Luxembourg time trial winner Damien Gaudin, came fourth.
The best Luxembourger was Kevin Geniets, who came in eighth. He was six seconds behind Laporte. The winner of the 2018 Tour de Luxembourg, Andrea Pasqualon, came 20th.
The time trial
Cyclists began the time trial at the Parvis under the New Bridge before heading through Rue de la Semois towards Montée du Grund. The course ended on Rue du Fossé by Place Guillaume II and was 2.1 kilometres long.
Time trial winner Christophe Laporte
The full route
Cyclists will go on to complete four stages over the next four days, cycling a total of 714 kilometres. The first stage will go from Luxembourg City to Hautcharage, covering 191.3km on 6 June. On Friday, the second stage will go from Steinfort to Rosport over a distance of 168.6km. Saturday, cyclists will go from Mondorf-les-Bains to Diekirch (178.7km) before cycling from Mersch to Luxembourg City in the final stage on Sunday (176km).
