Pepijn Reinderink Wins ‘Queen Stage’ of Škoda Tour de Luxembourg

On Friday 18 September 2026, the third stage – considered the “queen stage” – of the Škoda Tour de Luxembourg saw riders cover 179.6 kilometres from Wiltz to Diekirch.

The route featured eight categorised climbs, beginning with the Montée Um Knupp and Montée de Knaposcheid. After passing through Troisvierges and Weiswampach, the riders returned to Wiltz before entering the final circuit around Diekirch, which included three ascents of the Montée de Haemerich and two of the Montée du Seitert. The stage also featured an intermediate sprint in Weiswampach and a bonus sprint shortly after the riders entered the finishing circuit.

The race began at a fast pace, with several early attacks before a group of ten riders, including Germany’s Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates XRG), broke clear after around 30 kilometres. Several pursuing riders later joined them, increasing the leading group to nineteen. With fifteen kilometres remaining, the peloton containing yellow jersey Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) was around four minutes behind.

With ten kilometres remaining, France’s Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies), the Netherlands’ Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step) and Spain’s Igor Arrieta Lizarraga (UAE Team Emirates XRG) led by fifteen seconds over eight chasers. Reinderink subsequently attacked alone and maintained a narrow advantage during the closing kilometres to claim victory in Diekirch.

The winner crossed the finish line in 04:07:30. Italy’s Davide Piganzoli (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and France’s Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) finished one second behind, taking second and third place, respectively.

Following his victory, Pepijn Reinderink described it as “an amazing feeling”. He added: “This team saved me when my career was almost over, and now I am grateful for the team and for the opportunity I had today to get a free role. I hope I paid them back.”

Reflecting on the closing kilometres, he said: “There is only one thing: pain in the legs. You are thinking about the stage win and that gives you something more. Actually, in that moment, you are not thinking at all because you are so tired. When it all pays off, it is a great feeling. I cannot describe the feeling, to be honest.”

The result saw Davide Piganzoli take the yellow jersey and move into the lead of the general classification with an overall time of 11:43:21. Thomas Gachignard is second, six seconds behind, while Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) sits third at nine seconds. Piganzoli also leads the young rider classification, ahead of Vercher and Igor Arrieta Lizarraga (UAE Team Emirates XRG).

Pepijn Reinderink moved into the lead of the mountains classification with eighteen points, followed by Nils Politt with fifteen and Conrad Haugsted (Team ColoQuick) with thirteen. TotalEnergies leads the team classification with an overall time of 35:13:43, followed by Team Visma | Lease a Bike, 34 seconds behind, and Soudal Quick-Step, two minutes and 41 seconds behind.

The Škoda Tour de Luxembourg will continue on Saturday 19 September 2026 with a 20.4-kilometre individual time trial in Ettelbruck. The fourth stage, featuring 350 metres of elevation gain, will begin in Rue Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte and finish in Route de Bastogne.