Julius Johansen picks up a fine top-four finish at the Tour de Luxembourg

At the Skoda Tour de Luxembourg, Julius Johansen produced a storming ride for UAE Team Emirates-XRG in the stage 4 individual time trial. With an average speed of 45km/h, the Dane took a close-run fourth place on Saturday afternoon.

It was almost a sixth win of the season for the powerful rouleur, but Johansen was pipped to the day’s victory by Davide Piganzoli (Visma-Lease a Bike). Leo Hayter of Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, meanwhile, was third on the day. The day’s winner beat Johansen’s time by less than 20 seconds, with stage 4 proving an entertaining battle.

For Johansen, the result was bittersweet but yet more evidence of his outstanding progression against the clock. Beginning this season with no professional victories, the 27-year-old has taken five victories in 2026, all of which were taken in individual time trials or prologues.

Luxembourg presented another great opportunity for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG man on Saturday, with a flat 20km parcours to and from Ettelbruck. Operating with a negative split, Johansen remained well placed through the first intermediate time check before kicking on in the second half of the course.

The good pacing strategy offered Johansen a flying run in the latter kilometres, with the Dane spending a period in the hot seat before Hayter, Raccagni Noviero and Piganzoli crossed the finish line. Denied by the Italian and others, Johansen could still remain very content with his efforts on the time trial bike, picking up another podium place in what has become the best season of his career to date.

Skoda Tour de Luxembourg stage 4 (ITT) results:

1 Davide Piganzoli (Visma-Lease a Bike) 26:49

2. Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Soudal Quick-Step) +2”

3. Leo Hayter (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) +18”

4. Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +19″

Meanwhile, over in Belgium, Florian Vermeersch picked up a podium finish at the Flandrien 0.0% Classic, taking third place in Haacht. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider made his way into an elite breakaway on home roads, before producing a combative sprint in the finale to push for top honours.

At the race formerly known at the Super 8 Classic, Vermeersch went on the attack with 75km of the race to go, making his way into a strong breakaway that split from the peloton. For the rest of Saturday afternoon, an enthralling battle unfolded between the peloton and the breakaway to determine who would contest the victory in Belgium.

Ultimately, it was the breakaway that won this contest, with Vermeersch part of a 10+ group that came towards the finish line some 12 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Once within sight of the finish line, Vermeersch opened up his sprint and made his burst towards the line. It was Henrik Pedersen of Uno-X Mobility who claimed his first professional victory, with Vermeersch throwing his bike at the line and picking up third place.

The result is another confirmation of the Belgian’s fine form as he continues to chase his first win in UAE Team Emirates-XRG colours. Opportunities in this period of the season will come thick and fast for the 27-year-old gravel world champion.

Flandrien Classic 0.0% 2026 results:

1. Henrik Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility) 4:27:09

2. Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) s.t

3. Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t