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Rast wins Luxembourg prologue

By VeloNews.com
Published: Jun. 3, 2009

Grégory Rast (Astana) carved out his first victory on the 2009 season in Wednesday’s prologue at the 69th Tour of Luxembourg on a technical, 2.7km course in the streets of the capital.

Rast – a winner of the Luxembourg tour in 2007 – covered the course in 3 minutes, 48 seconds to claim the opener of the five-day race.

Stopping the clock for second was Jonathan Hivert (Skil-Shimano) at two seconds slower with Romain Feillu (Agritubel) third at four seconds adrift.

“I had this prologue already a long time in my mind,” Rast said. “The last years, I was in this prologue, but could not win. Now I am much stronger. My sprints are better. This prologue was a long sprint. In 2007, I won the overall … I would like to repeat this victory.”

Riders started late, with Andreas Klöden hitting the start ramp at 9 p.m. Rast, a three-time national Swiss road champion, wore the leader’s jersey at the Tour de Romandie for two stages earlier this season.

The five-day tour continues Thursday with the 157km second stage from Luxembourg to Mondorf, home of the Schleck brothers. Both are racing in their national tour with Saxo Bank.

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