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Classique du Grand-Duché - Discussion
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 20-10-2026 01:16
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7961
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 850.00
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 Classique du Grand-Duché
Welcome to the 2026 edition of the longstanding Pro Tour hilly one-day classic Classique du Grand-Duché. It's the leftover race for those that didn't venture to the more well-known stage races of Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice. Yet, for those cyclists looking to save race days and still score major points, this is the place to be! In front of them, 227.7kms of up and down action all day long.
This will be the 16th edition of the Classique du Grand-Duché, having been run every season since 2011. The winner's list includes some of the best names in the sport, well... with one glaring exception. Can you spot it?
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | | 2025 |  Sergio Higuita |  Silvio Herklotz |  C. Champoussin | | Los Pollos Hermanos | Team Puma - SAP | Rabobank | | 2024 |  Silvio Herklotz |  Joseph Areruya |  M.A. Lopez | | Team Puma - SAP | Xero Racing | Evonik - ELKO | | 2023 |  Silvio Herklotz |  M.A. Lopez |  Attila Valter | | Team Puma - SAP | Evonik - ELKO | EA Vesuvio | | 2022 |  Peter Sagan |  Sean De Bie |  Jay McCarthy | | Moser - Sygic | Aegon - Peroni | Amaysim Cervelo | | 2021 |  Anthony Turgis |  Clement Koretzky |  Alexey Lutsenko | | Farfetch Pro Cycling | Festina - OAKA | Isostar - Specialized | | 2020 |  M.A. Lopez |  Alexey Lutsenko |  Peter Sagan | | Evonik - ELKO | King Power | Moser - Sygic | | 2019 |  Peter Sagan |  Alexey Lutsenko |  E.B. Hagen | | Moser - Sygic | SPAR - Siam Cement | Air France - KLM | | 2018 |  Arnaud Demare |  Toms Skujins |  Clement Koretzky | | Team Puma - SAP | Evonik - ELKO | Festina - Dexia | | 2017 |  Peter Sagan |  Ben Gastauer |  E.B. Hagen | | Moser - Sygic | Vesuvio - Accumalux | Grieg - Eftel | | 2016 |  Egoitz Garcia | Tejay Van Garderen |  Jan Bakelants | | Movistar - US Postal | Movistar - US Postal | Bouygues Telecom | | 2015 |  Simone Ponzi |  Tejay Van Garderen |  Ben Gastauer | | Good Energy | Movistar - US Postal | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | 2014 |  Yuri Trofimov |  Simone Ponzi |  Frank Schleck | | Tinkoff C.S. Bank | Good Energy | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | 2013 |  D. Cunego |  Simone Ponzi |  Yuri Trofimov | | Lotto - Cervelo | Wiggle | Koenigsegg | | 2012 |  Frank Schleck |  Jan Bakelants |  Robert Gesink | | Vesuvio - Accumalux | Pearl Adidas | Jack Wolfskin | | 2011 |  Yuri Trofimov |  Patrik Sinkewitz | Frank Schleck | | Sony Ericsson | Auber 93 - Look | Vesuvio - Accumalux |
At a quick glance, some might point to Sergio Higuita upsetting Silvio Herklotz and ending his bid for a three-peat as the big outlier. But let’s give Higuita his due and go a little further down the list, back a decade to a race that still makes me smile.
Spaniard Egoitz Garcia winning from the morning breakaway in 2016 was the kind of result that made you check the results twice. Then Tejay Van Garderen somehow rolled in behind him to make it a 1-2 for Movistar-US Postal. It was Garcia’s second, and ultimately final, pro win after taking a stage win in the Tour of Eritrea two years earlier. I still have a soft spot for that wonderfully bizarre day.
Will another surprise be in store tomorrow, or will the favourites rise again?
| MM | HI | ST | RS | SP | AC | DH |  Lopez | 82 | 84 | 76 | 74 | 66 | 78 | 71 |  Herklotz | 83 | 81 | 79 | 80 | 68 | 76 | 76 |  Areruya | 81 | 81 | 76 | 78 | 68 | 76 | 60 |  Benoot | 78 | 81 | 75 | 74 | 69 | 71 | 66 |  Higuita | 80 | 80 | 76 | 78 | 66 | 75 | 64 |  Moscon | 77 | 80 | 76 | 77 | 60 | 73 | 69 |  Romo | 76 | 80 | 78 | 76 | 67 | 71 | 63 |  Champoussin | 79 | 79 | 76 | 76 | 59 | 76 | 74 |  Trakhov | 74 | 79 | 78 | 74 | 69 | 75 | 69 | | Lyu | 77 | 78 | 75 | 76 | 64 | 74 | 74 |  Gaudu | 75 | 78 | 78 | 75 | 68 | 70 | 69 |  Novak | 79 | 77 | 74 | 76 | 66 | 76 | 75 |  Mas | 78 | 77 | 74 | 74 | 60 | 77 | 70 |  Guerreiro | 77 | 77 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 72 | 67 | | Zambanini | 77 | 77 | 75 | 71 | 63 | 76 | 69 | | Blums | 77 | 77 | 71 | 73 | 64 | 70 | 78 |  Kipkemboi | 76 | 77 | 68 | 73 | 63 | 76 | 68 |  Conca | 75 | 77 | 74 | 75 | 74 | 76 | 74 |
Makes the most sense to start at the top of the list with two former World RR Champions, Lopez (2024) and Herklotz (2023 & 2020), set to battle it out once again. Lopez will have fond memories of his 2020 victory here, which was his first as a professional, while Herklotz, now on a new team at Assa Abloy, is looking to match Peter Sagan's record of three wins at this event.
It has to be said that both are 32 years old and running out of time to add to their list of accolades before retirement catches up with them. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Areruya has spent his entire career trying to avoid finishing behind them.
The trio made up the 2024 podium, with Herklotz taking the win ahead of Areruya and Lopez. Areruya, a two-time Monument winner after taking Liege-Bastogne-Liege last season and Giro di Lombardia in 2024, will be eager to finally claim his first victory here.
Last year's winner Higuita attacked from distance to claim the victory. Surely, the favourites above wouldn't let that happen two years in row?
Next up we have the two PCT wildcard teams looking to cause trouble. Duvel - Tsingtao brings a strong pair in Benoot and Lyu, while Bianchi Enel will be supporting Moscon.
Romo has raced here once in 2024 and made the final group but took 12th in the sprint. While Champoussin had his breakthrough last season with a third-place finish in his third attempt. Trakhov makes his return having not raced here since 2021.
It's always hard to point out the outsiders who might surprise, but keep an eye on Conca and Guerreiro if they survive to a reduced sprint.  Malecki is always a wildcard. And youngster Ayuso will be looking to make this race as hard as possible, whether he is racing for himself or helping Higuita.
Last and certainly least is downhill madman  Zumer (85 DH), who is part of interesting Cedevita squad with Primozic, Chumil, and Kenyeres. All of which are more climbers than punchuers. Can't wait to see their race tactics!
That's all we've got time for. I'm sure I've missed somebody, but if they win tomorrow, let's just pretend I mentioned them here.
The full 163-cyclist startlist is below.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 20-10-2026 01:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 17095
Joined: 27-07-2011
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Well, time to see what 71 hill Gregaard can do.  I might bave flown too close to the sun here trying to capitalize on Gregaard's stamina. I have to think that without a puncheur leader here, he'll be deprioritized and not able to ride the coattails to a good result. But we'll see!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| SotD |
Posted on 20-10-2026 05:24
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World Champion
Posts: 13096
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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Time to see if Gaudu Can get a decent result. He won’t get any better chances during the entire season than this.
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 20-10-2026 06:41
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2576
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 400.00
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Thanks for the preview, Mre! It's really cool to have all that MG history knowledge around!
I think the best way to celebrate this 10 years anniversary of Garcias breakaway win is a repear, maybe from someone like Martinez or Gregoire? But seriously, if one of them sneaks into the top 25 while the big guns battle it out I'm still happy.
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| redordead |
Posted on 20-10-2026 06:45
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Team Leader
Posts: 5937
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
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This is our strongest lineup in the triple clash. Let's see if Primozic can get a result here with our team of "madmen" supporting him
Thanks for the preview 
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 20-10-2026 07:01
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2230
Joined: 11-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Excited for Herklotz' Assa Abloy debut! Obviously we have very high expectations whenever he's at the startline, but admittedly he has very weak support here, with only 5 domestiques, the best of them being Kvist at 73 HI, but hopefully that won't hold him back.
Thanks for the nice preview!
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| knockout |
Posted on 20-10-2026 07:14
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8749
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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Hoping for a podium (at least). Lopez vs Herklotz vs areruya is of course always fun to watch
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| roturn |
Posted on 20-10-2026 08:17
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Team Manager
Posts: 22175
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Depth is showing without a big leader here as with Guerrero I at least have a decent option alongside Hermans, which is a big update to the previous years.
Wanted to send Vansevenant first, who might have been able to fight for the win, though competition would have been huge here and I had dinner now race days left, so TA was the better option.
Herklotz/Lopez the obvious bet for the 1-2. Hopefully though gaps won't be as big and Guerrero can use his sprint for a decent result. Top10 would be great. |
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 20-10-2026 08:21
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3778
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 800.00
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knockout wrote:
Hoping for a podium (at least). Lopez vs Herklotz vs areruya vs *Moscon*
Fixed that for you knockout
Cool wildcard race for us I actually do think Moscon will go well which just seems mad considering he wasn't at this level in previous iterations of the game but here we are top 10 the obvious aim top 5 the stretch target |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 20-10-2026 09:31
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3522
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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I think this race could go a lot of ways, hoping for one where Romo is inside the top 5 which is realistic albeit a bit optmistic!
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| quadsas |
Posted on 20-10-2026 10:56
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2981
Joined: 18-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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Thank you for the xp. 5 points would be miraculous
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 20-10-2026 22:51
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 20-10-2026 12:37
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4189
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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Had to come back to defend the title, but obviously it won't be easy. Thank you for the nice preview!
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 20-10-2026 13:15
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World Champion
Posts: 13854
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 500.00
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Champoussin was third here last year, but I don't think it's fair to ask from him to repeat that. Still, I expect him to be competitive once again.
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