Martens wins overall at Skoda-Tour de Luxembourg

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Bob Jungels of Radioshack-Leopard won the final stage at the Tour de Luxembourg while stage runner-up Paul Martens (Blanco) secured overall victory in the city of Luxembourg. The top three on the stage was rounded out by Jungels' teammate Jan Bakelants.

Overnight leader Jonathan Hivert (Sojasun) finished fourth at seven seconds, but dropped to second overall behind Martens on the final general classification, four seconds back. Bakelants placed third overall at six seconds.

Blanco started the final stage in the five-day race with four riders in the top 20. "We had four cards to play," Martens told Cyclingnews. "Maarten Wynants, Robert Gesink and Laurens ten Dam. We discussed that our rivals would be watching me because I was third in the overall. I am also the fastest to the line when compared to my teammates. That's why we decided that initially we would not all ride for me. We could play our game in different ways during the race. Laurens [ten Dam and Robert [Gesink can handle long attacks quite well. Especially Robert was very strong today, trying several times to get away but in the last two laps we decided that it would be for me today."

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The stage's tactic unfolded when Blanco sent Moreno Hofland into the break of the day with Marco Corti (Colombia), Pierrig Quemeneur (Europcar) and Christian Helmig (Team Differdange). The four riders gained a lead of over six minutes in the 143.6 kilometre stage from Mersch to Luxembourg. However, when they arrived on the local laps in the country's capital their lead quickly evaporated.

The local laps featured a new climb compared to previous years. The 800-metre long Pabeierbierg averaged 9.1 percent and would prove to be decisive for the overall classification. After Quemeneur, the last of the breakaway riders, was caught, Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) launched an attack. The winner of the third stage in last year's edition is building up towards his Tour de France form but the attack today was too early.

In the penultimate lap local favourite Bob Jungels, only 20 years old and in his first year as a professional, attacked. On the last climb of the Pabeierbierg Martens and Jungels' teammate Jan Bakelants joined him but the young rider kept his ground. "When he attacked with two laps to go I stayed relaxed because there was a lot of wind. I never thought he would make it on his own, but he did. When we sprinted I reached his bracket," Martens said, "but he was just stronger than I was today. If you had given me 5 metres extra, I might have made it."

After the finish it was decided however that Jungels' attack in the penultimate lap was irregular. Danilo Hondo gave a so-called hand sling to his young teammate when he attacked. The move which comes from the track discipline of Madison is not allowed in road races. When Jungels won the stage several teams protested. After long jury deliberations it was decided that Jungels would keep his stage victory but would receive a ten-second penalty which cost him his second place in the overall and the white jersey. He finished fifth in the general classification.

When talking to Cyclingnews the winner was unaware of the jury deciding on his faith. "I felt Martens approaching fast," the third youngest WorldTour-rider explained. "I tried to accelerate some more and just beat him to the line. I am obviously very happy to win here in Luxembourg."

Paul Martens took the yellow jersey from Jonathan Hivert who finished at seven seconds from the stage winner and Martens. The Sojasun Frenchman started the final day with a three-second gap on Martens. "In the race I watched Hivert mostly. Yesterday I was quite disappointed because I started my sprint too soon and finished fourth. The team worked so hard for me that day. Today I played the game in a smarter way, and won."

It's the first stage race victory for the 29-year-old German rider. It's a double victory for Blanco after Lars Boom won the overall classification today at the Ster ZLM Toer in the Netherlands.