#Stage1 (Knuedler - Fëschmaart)

Riders assembled in the nation's capital of Luxembourg for the 84th edition of the ŠKODA Tour de Luxembourg 2024 edition enjoying the patronage of the reigning champion Mark Hirschi, also the world champion. Matthew van der Poel presented to the local dignitaries including the race director and event president Andy Schleck ahead of the start of the first of five days of racing 158 kilometers in prospect the second shortest of the road stages along the week but potentially a hilly and grippy and challenging one for the sprinters a four rider group assembling out front in the early stages Pepijn Arinderink of the Soudal quick-step squad the 22 year old Dutchman showing impressive climbing ability Vincent van Heemelen was there for the first couple of hills the team Flanders Balwans rider from Belgium Mattia Baies from team Polticometa also joining the break and the host nation Luxembourg represented by Alexander Kess of the national squad as they put more than six minutes into the peloton two riders from before the initial four pressing on as Kess started to fade on the third and penultimate climb of the day Baies with Arinderink showing great facility in the hills as Vincent van Heemelen rejoined the peloton advantage still north of four minutes with 46 kilometers to go it was all hands to the pump behind as Wisman Lisebike joined the UA team emirate squad setting the tempo on the front of the peloton approaching the final 15 kilometers it was still a decent advantage for the two up front Arinderink and Baies though knew that the final climb of the day would be reached inside the final 10 kilometers a two and a half kilometer assault of more than six percent Bahrain victorious joining the chase behind as the pace ramped up the sprinters were inevitably going to struggle to find it to be a very testing and demanding finale Mattia Baies along with his breakaway companion Pepijn Arinderink. Baies would be a judge the aggressive rider of the race and of the day and Arinderink pressed on in the closing moments of the final hill to take the maximum points and ensure that he would head into the lead of the climbers classification into day two as Pedersen former world champion setting the tempo to try and set up Mattias Skjelmusser to try and repeat his victory from two seasons ago into the final bend of a grippy and challenging final kilometer Rico Kelderman from VisMalisa bike trying to organize a lead act for his teammate Christophe Laporte. Skjelmusser sitting in his wake and world champion Mathieu van der Poel waiting to launch in the final few hundred meters the ramp up to the finish line Andreas Kroon of Denmark and Lotto Destiny launching first but immediately pouncing and realizing the danger Mathieu van der Poel streaking clear to take the victory first stage of the week being claimed by the 29 year old Dutchman with plenty in hand to celebrate with a clenched fist salute glory for Mathieu van der Poel Christophe Laporte and the rest in his wake could do nothing about the flying Dutchman it's the first win since April for Mathieu van der Poel his fourth of the season and it's coming at a good time as he prepares for the world championships in a couple of weeks the first yellow jersey of the week claimed by Mathieu van der Poel Reindering leading the climbers classification van der Poel leading in points best young rider it's a handy advantage of four seconds courtesy of the bonus seconds for van der Poel at the head of general classification Andreas Kroon in third Mark Hershey having claimed a bonus second earlier in the day so the riders now head to stage two a 155 kilometer ride from Junglinster to Schipwange