Laurent Didier is the new Luxembourgish road champion, after beating Ben Gastauer (AG2R-La Mondiale) and team mate Fränk Schleck in Tétange.
Didier: “I’m incredibly happy with this result. It’s my first pro victory and pro title, so I’m really happy. It’s an honor to wear the colors of your country.” Didier was the national cyclocross champion as a junior in 2000 and the U23 time trial champion in 2005.
He was part of a break of nine riders that formed in the first third of the race. The group included Schleck and Gastauer and three U23 riders of the continental team LEOPARD TREK.
The conditions were hard today: it was cold and raining the whole day. “Fränk launched the first attack with four laps to go. He got a small gap, but then Gastauer counterattacked and managed to stay clear for a while. He was riding very strong today. But we closed the gap again and then Fränk and I launched one attack after another, to isolate Gastauer. When I eventually got away with 7km to go, Fränk was the perfect teammate.” Schleck stayed on the wheel of Gastauer, who to no effect tried to catch Didier.
Didier finished solo, with Gastauer beating Fränk Schleck to the line for second place.
Alex Kirsch won the title in the U23 category. LEOPARD TREK team mates Pit Schlechter and Bob Jungels completed the podium.
