Greg Van Avermaet secured the overall victory at the Skoda Tour de Luxembourg on Sunday, winning the final stage to seal his win in the short stage race.
The BMC team chased down the break of the 174.6km stage and stopped a counter-attack on the three laps of the 3.8km finishing circuit, which included a category-one climb up the Pabeierbierg.
Just two riders remained in front as the final bell rang and BMC brought the race back together under the flamme rouge.
The riders headed onto the final climb at full speed with Van Avermaet tucked on the wheel of teammate Loïc Vliegen and then began his sprint with 150 metres to go, gaining enough of a gap to celebrate his double win as he hit the line. Alex Kirsch (WB-Veranclassic) was second and Xandro Meurisse (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) was third.
Van Avermaet finished 29 seconds ahead of Meurisse in the final overall classification, with Anthony Perez (Cofidis) third at 36 seconds.
It was Van Avermaet first race since his break following his hugely successful spring Classics campaign.
"It's always good to start with a win again. This might not be a UCI WorldTour race but every victory counts, and it is always good to get into this mindset,” Van Avermaet said.
"When I came into this race, I was just thinking about improving my form and being a little bit better every day so, I was surprised when I was second in the prologue. From there, the expectation to do well came from me. Every day was a parcours suited to me, so it became easier and easier to take a victory and I am really happy to win."
"I felt a little bit of pressure because I really wanted to win especially after the effort of all the guys. You have to prove that you are the leader of your team by finishing off the job. It was a good experience. I think today was a better climb for me. Yesterday was a little bit longer, and I didn't time my sprint as well as I did today. It was much better today. It was a stage more suited to puncheur like me but, I have to say, the team did a really good job to bring me where I wanted to be."
Van Avermaet is due to ride the Tour de Suisse to polish his form for the Tour de France, which will lay the foundations for the second part of his season.
"The main goal for me is winning a stage in the Tour de France, and that is the most important thing," he said of his goals for the rest of the season."
Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 4:46:08 |
| 2 | Alex Kirsch (Lux) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
| 3 | Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| 4 | Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:03 |
| 5 | Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:00:04 |
| 6 | Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
| 7 | Huub Duijn (Ned) Veranda's Willems Crelan | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
| 8 | Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| 9 | Rasmus Guldhammer Poulsen (Den) Team Veloconcept | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
| 10 | Julien Loubet (Fra) Armee de Terre | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| 11 | Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
| 12 | Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:00:07 |
| 13 | Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
| 14 | Loïc Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
| 15 | Alexander Krieger (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
| 16 | Benjamin Thomas (Fra) Armee de Terre | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
| 17 | Maxime Bouet (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:00:14 |
| 18 | Brice Feillu (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
| 19 | Martijn Tusveld (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
| 20 | Etienne Van Empel (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:00:16 |
| 21 | Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:18 |
| 22 | Szymon Rekita (Pol) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:00:19 |
| 23 | Raphael Freienstein (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
| 24 | Gregory Habeaux (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:00:23 |
| 25 | Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
| 26 | Fabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:00:27 |
| 27 | Martijn Budding (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:00:29 |
| 28 | Romain Le Roux (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:00:30 |
| 29 | Jan Brockhoff (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:00:32 |
| 30 | Alexander Kamp (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:00:37 |
| 31 | Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
| 32 | Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:00:39 |
| 33 | Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:41 |
| 34 | Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:00:48 |
| 35 | Nicolaj Steen (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:00:49 |
| 36 | Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
| 37 | Piet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | 0:00:50 |
| 38 | Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:00:53 |
| 39 | Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:00:57 |
| 40 | Ivan Centrone (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:01:04 |
| 41 | Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:01:19 |
| 42 | Francis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
| 43 | Simone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:01:32 |
| 44 | Jan Petelin (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:01:37 |
| 45 | Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing Team | 0:01:39 |
| 46 | Tom Wirtgen (Ned) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:01:45 |
| 47 | Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
| 48 | Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
| 49 | Fabien Canal (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:01:57 |
| 50 | Aksel Nommela (Est) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:01:59 |
| 51 | Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:02:01 |
| 52 | Tim Ariesen (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:02:02 |
| 53 | Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:02:04 |
| 54 | Tom Vermeer (Ned) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:02:07 |
| 55 | Joshua Huppertz (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
| 56 | Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:02:21 |
| 57 | Christophe Masson (Fra) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
| 58 | Michael Reihs (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:02:34 |
| 59 | Mads Baadsgaard Rahbek (Den) Team Veloconcept | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
| 60 | Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:02:44 |
| 61 | Kevin Lebreton (Fra) Armee de Terre | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
| 62 | Tom Thill (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:02:48 |
| 63 | Ludovic Robeet (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:02:54 |
| 64 | Kazushige Kuboki (Jpn) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
| 65 | Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
| 66 | Maxime Farazijn (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
| 67 | Antoine Warnier (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
| 68 | Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
| 69 | Fabian Schormair (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
| 70 | Daniel Westmattelmann (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
| 71 | Krisztian Lovassy (Hun) Team Differdange - Losch | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
| 72 | Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:03:04 |
| 73 | Carmelo Foti (Ita) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
| 74 | Andreas Hyldgaard Jepssen (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:03:21 |
| 75 | Kasper Asgreen (Den) Team Veloconcept | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
| 76 | Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
| 77 | Jimmy Raibaud (Fra) Armee de Terre | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
| 78 | Tobias Knaup (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | 0:03:28 |
| 79 | Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 0:03:35 |
| 80 | Stijn Steels (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | 0:03:37 |
| 81 | Jelle Donders (Bel) Team Differdange - Losch | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
| 82 | Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:03:44 |
| 83 | Yuma Koishi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:03:50 |
| 84 | Christophe Prémont (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:04:56 |
| 85 | Martin Elmiger (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
| 86 | Christopher Hatz (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
| 87 | Sander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
| 88 | Michael Carbel Svendgaard (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:05:20 |
| 89 | Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:05:59 |
| 90 | Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
| 91 | Richard Weinzheimer (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | 0:10:02 |
| 92 | Gaeten Pons (Ned) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Justin Jules (Fra) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Ruben Pols (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Mike Diener (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | John Mandrysch (Bel) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Elias Van Breussegem (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Damien Gaudin (Fra) Armee de Terre | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Bryan Alaphilippe (Fra) Armee de Terre | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Luc Turchi (Lux) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 18:27:50 |
| 2 | Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:00:29 |
| 3 | Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:36 |
| 4 | Benjamin Thomas (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:00:40 |
| 5 | Huub Duijn (Ned) Veranda's Willems Crelan | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| 6 | Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:43 |
| 7 | Julien Loubet (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:00:44 |
| 8 | Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:00:47 |
| 9 | Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:48 |
| 10 | Rasmus Guldhammer Poulsen (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:00:50 |
| 11 | Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:00:52 |
| 12 | Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:00:53 |
| 13 | Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:56 |
| 14 | Alexander Krieger (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:00:58 |
| 15 | Raphael Freienstein (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
| 16 | Maxime Bouet (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
| 17 | Martijn Tusveld (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:01:01 |
| 18 | Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:01:09 |
| 19 | Etienne Van Empel (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:01:22 |
| 20 | Fabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:01:27 |
| 21 | Szymon Rekita (Pol) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
| 22 | Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
| 23 | Piet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | 0:01:28 |
| 24 | Alexander Kamp (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:01:35 |
| 25 | Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:01:37 |
| 26 | Loïc Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 0:01:50 |
| 27 | Gregory Habeaux (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:01:53 |
| 28 | Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:01:59 |
| 29 | Nicolaj Steen (Den) Team Veloconcept | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
| 30 | Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:02:03 |
| 31 | Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:02:11 |
| 32 | Simone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:02:39 |
| 33 | Ivan Centrone (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:02:47 |
| 34 | Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | 0:02:53 |
| 35 | Romain Le Roux (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:02:59 |
| 36 | Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team | 0:03:21 |
| 37 | Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:03:34 |
| 38 | Alex Kirsch (Lux) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:04:09 |
| 39 | Jan Brockhoff (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:04:16 |
| 40 | Francis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
| 41 | Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:04:24 |
| 42 | Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:05:37 |
| 43 | Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 0:05:48 |
| 44 | Martijn Budding (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:06:59 |
| 45 | Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:07:28 |
| 46 | Yuma Koishi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:07:33 |
| 47 | Tom Vermeer (Ned) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:07:59 |
| 48 | Fabien Canal (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:08:35 |
| 49 | Ludovic Robeet (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:08:57 |
| 50 | Kasper Asgreen (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:10:03 |
| 51 | Brice Feillu (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:10:25 |
| 52 | Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:10:40 |
| 53 | Joshua Huppertz (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | 0:11:27 |
| 54 | Christophe Masson (Fra) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:11:51 |
| 55 | Tom Thill (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:12:34 |
| 56 | Antoine Warnier (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect | 0:12:39 |
| 57 | Aksel Nommela (Est) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:12:51 |
| 58 | Christopher Hatz (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | 0:14:13 |
| 59 | Jimmy Raibaud (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:14:22 |
| 60 | Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:14:45 |
| 61 | Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
| 62 | Tim Ariesen (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:15:08 |
| 63 | Michael Reihs (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:15:28 |
| 64 | Maxime Farazijn (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | 0:15:37 |
| 65 | Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
| 66 | Carmelo Foti (Ita) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:16:00 |
| 67 | Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:18:30 |
| 68 | Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | 0:18:33 |
| 69 | Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe Gobert | 0:19:19 |
| 70 | Kazushige Kuboki (Jpn) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:19:31 |
| 71 | Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:19:35 |
| 72 | Jan Petelin (Lux) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:20:11 |
| 73 | Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing Team | 0:20:13 |
| 74 | Stijn Steels (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise | 0:20:14 |
| 75 | Mads Baadsgaard Rahbek (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:20:57 |
| 76 | Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept | 0:20:59 |
| 77 | Gaeten Pons (Ned) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
| 78 | Krisztian Lovassy (Hun) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:21:29 |
| 79 | Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij | 0:21:35 |
| 80 | Daniel Westmattelmann (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
| 81 | Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:21:40 |
| 82 | Fabian Schormair (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | 0:22:05 |
| 83 | Michael Carbel Svendgaard (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:24:27 |
| 84 | Andreas Hyldgaard Jepssen (Den) Team Veloconcept | 0:24:44 |
| 85 | Tobias Knaup (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | 0:25:07 |
| 86 | Jelle Donders (Bel) Team Differdange - Losch | 0:25:25 |
| 87 | Martin Elmiger (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 0:26:20 |
| 88 | Sander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:26:42 |
| 89 | Tom Wirtgen (Ned) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:28:26 |
| 90 | Christophe Prémont (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan | 0:29:02 |
| 91 | Kevin Lebreton (Fra) Armee de Terre | 0:30:57 |
| 92 | Richard Weinzheimer (Ger) Team Lotto - Kern Haus | 0:31:40 |
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