Conciliatory end at Tour du Loir et Cher UCI 2.2 – Lukas Rüegg lacks 150 meters for victory – fourth place on fifth stage 

 

Today it was both namesakes Lukas who put their stamp on the race. On the 98 kilometer long final stage of the five-day Tour of France with start and finish in Blois, Lukas Meiler and Lukas Rüegg showed that they are in form.

 

The super-fast stage on the almost eight-kilometer circuit, was run like a chase race on the track. In the last, supposedly decisive seven-man leading group, there were two Team Vorarlberg riders, Meiler and Rüegg. Lukas Meiler was stopped 500 meters before the finish. Rüegg is only 150 meters (!) overrun by the approaching peloton and nevertheless finishes in an excellent fourth place. Winner is the Belgian Jasper Dejaegher (Team Circus-ReUz). As the second best Team Vorarlberg professional Dominik Amann finishes in 26th place.

Swiss Rüegg finishes the tour in 15th place overall, with Dutchman Tim Marsman (Team Metec) the winner.

 

“That was hair-trigger today that we have not cleared this stage. But the guys have again shown real morale after the past difficult days and threw everything into the race. Hard and important race kilometers are waiting!” Werner Salmen – Sports Director

 

Result: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-du-loir-et-cher/2023/stage-5 

Squad: Lukas Meiler, Dominik Amann, Colin Stüssi, Lukas Rüegg, Pirmin Benz, Jon Knolle (DNF)

 

The race continues next weekend with the traditional cherry blossom race (171 kilometers) in Wels (AUT). The second competition in the Austrian Cycling League.