Preview of the 2024 Tour of Luxembourg | Van der Poel and company test their legs one more time ahead of the World Championship

Attention for the Tour of Luxembourg hasn't been very high in recent years, but when the world champion comes to test his legs ahead of the World Championships, interest suddenly skyrockets. Mathieu van der Poel will be there, but UAE-Team Emirates, Lidl-Trek, and Bahrain Victorious are also bringing great teams to the north of Europe. IDLProCycling.com provides a preview.

Practical information Tour of Luxembourg 2024

• Wednesday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024
• Participants
• Classification: 2.Pro

In this article

• Latest winners
• Route, timings and daily favorites
• Favorites ranking
• TV information

Latest winners Tour of Luxembourg

2023 Marc Hirschi
2022 Mattias Skjelmose
2021 João Almeida
2020 Diego Ulissi
2019 Jesus Herrada
2018 Andrea Pasqualon
2017 Greg Van Avermaet
2016 Maurits Lammertink
2015 Linus Gerdemann
2014 Matti Breschel

Tour of Luxembourg 2024: route, climbings, timings and daily favorites

Although the Tour of Luxembourg, with its 2.Pro status and spot on the calendar in the fall, doesn’t always have the best list of participants, the organizers can certainly be proud of the past winners. Last year, Marc Hirschi was the best, and the Swiss rider from UAE-Team Emirates is coming to defend his title. In 2022, Mattias Skjelmose won, and João Almeida triumphed in 2021.

This shows that the Tour of Luxembourg has become more challenging in recent years. In the past, classics specialists like Greg Van Avermaet, Maurits Lammertink, and Diego Ulissi still had a chance, but that changed in 2021. Since then, the race always includes an individual time trial and features tougher climbs. While the climbs around Luxembourg aren’t major mountain passes, they are still steep and challenging.

Stage 1, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024: Luxembourg - Luxembourg (156.4 km)

A traditional opening stage, with both the start and finish in Luxembourg City. There will be some tough climbing right away, with short, steep climbs. In the final part, the Côte de Stafelter will cause splits in the peloton, before an uphill finish.

Climbs
48.5 km: MONTÉE DE NIKLOSBIERG (4.6 km at 6.1%)
72.8 km: CÔTE DE BOURSCHEID (3.4 km at 7.0%)
90.4 km:CÔTE DE ESCHDORF (2.5 km at 8.6%)
149.5 km: CÔTE DE STAFELTER (1.8 km at 8.6%)

Timings
Start: 1:05 p.m.
Finish: Around 4:40 p.m.

Favorites
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Marc Hirschi (UAE-Team Emirates)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Stage 2, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024: Junglinster - Schifflange (155.0 km)

After a tough first day, the organizers have also planned a challenging route for day two. There are only two categorized climbs, but the final circuit in Schifflange includes an uncategorized hill of 900 meters at over 7 percent. This means that riders with a fast finish and a strong punch are the main contenders here.

Climbs
28.8 km: CÔTE DE ZITTIG (1.7 km a 6.6%)
68.7 km: MONTÉE DE STEINSEL (1.5 km a 8.9%)

Timings
Start: 1 p.m.
Finish: Around 4:33 p.m.

Favorites
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike)

Stage 3, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024: Rosport - Diekirch (201.3 km)

A long day in the saddle on day three, with yet another explosive finale. In the last 30 kilometers, there won’t be a flat meter, creating a mini-classic with all its steep ramps. Will it be the riders with endurance or the classics specialists with a strong punch who come out on top?

Climbs
38.5 km: CÔTE DE MICHELSBIERG (2.2 km a 7.1%)
61.2 km: CÔTE DE BEAUFORT (3.6 km a 4.4%)
137.6 km: UM KNUPP (3.8 km a 4.0%)
170.8 km: MONTÉE DE HAEMERICH (1.1 km a 7.4%)
180.6 km: MONTÉE DE SEITERT (800 m a 9.9%)
184.6 km: MONTÉE DE HAEMERICH (1.1 km a 7.4%)
194.4 km: MONTÉE DE SEITERT (800 m a 9.9%)
198.4 km: MONTÉE DE HAEMERICH (1.1 km a 7.4%)

Timings
Start: 12:15 p.m.
Finish: Around 4:35 p.m.

Favorites
Marc Hirschi (UAE-Team Emirates)
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Stage 4, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024: Differdange - Differdange (15.5 km, time trial)

As mentioned, since 2021 the organization has introduced an individual time trial in the Tour of Luxembourg, and on day four of this edition, it’s time again. A time trial for the specialists, though at 15.5 kilometers, it is 8 kilometers shorter than last year. The overall standings will be shaped here, with a climb of 1.3 kilometers at 8.5% along the way.

Climbs
8.0 km: COL DE L'EUROPE (1.3 km a 8.5%)

Timings
Start first rider: 1:57 p.m.
Finish last rider: Around 4:17 p.m.

Favorites
Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
Juan Ayuso (UAE-Team Emirates)
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)

Stage 5, Sunday, September 22, 2024: Mersch - Luxembourg (176.9 km)

On the last day, we finish just like last year, and start the first day the same as we did last year. It’s an up-and-down day, with climbs ranging from a maximum of 2.2 kilometers to just 800 meters. A day where anything can still happen, as controlling this kind of stage will be a real challenge.

Climbs
10.1 km: CÔTE DE NOMMERN (2.7 km a 5.6%)
37.7 km: MONTÉE DE GRALINGEN (2.0 km a 7.0%)
59.6 km: CÔTE DE KAUTENBACH (4.2 km a 4.7%)
105.8 km: CÔTE DE MISÄRSHAFF (2.2 km a 5.8%)

Timings
Start: 11:05
Finish: Around 3:06 p.m.

Favorites
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Marc Hirschi (UAE-Team Emirates)

Favorites classification Tour of Luxembourg 2024

Will the riders who perform well in the daily stages also determine the overall standings? The time trial on day four will play a crucial role. The key question is how Marc Hirschi's (UAE Team Emirates) time trial performance compares to specialists like Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Juan Ayuso (also UAE Team Emirates). On paper, the latter two are the best candidates to gain time in the time trial, so it will be up to the others to gain time on the Luxembourg hills.

Hirschi is certainly the man in form, but he will also face classics specialists. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike) can all deliver an excellent time trial when it really matters. Are there more riders in this category? Not really. However, there are strong climbers present, but can they make a difference on the short, steep climbs? If so, then Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) are also worth considering.

Favorites Tour of Luxembourg 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com

Top favorites:Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Juan Ayuso (also UAE Team Emirates)
Outsiders: Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Long shots: Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)