For the first time in his short career, 20-year-old Danny Van Poppel led a major bike race when he did today's first stage of the Tour de Luxembourg with the yellow jersey on his shoulders. Despite being disappointed with his third place in the sprint, the Dutchman was pleased with the experience that included having the Schleck brothers ride in his service.

Today Trek Factory Racing was in charge. Grabbing the reins, they rolled up their sleeves, and eagerly went to work.   For the first time this season, and the first time in its young existence, they had a leader’s jersey to defend and they embraced the responsibility with gusto.

The 172.6-kilometer first stage at the Skoda Tour of Luxembourg was plugged a day for sprinters and Trek Factory Racing had a two-fold mission: protect the yellow jersey of Danny van Poppel, then win the stage. 

Three riders broke clear in the early going - a breakaway Trek Factory Racing could live with - and Fabio Silvestre and Calvin Watson made early grunt work keeping the trio in check. As the race entered its critical stages the pinstripes swarmed the front. All was in order, the blueprint for the stage mapped flawlessly, the gap waned in a perfect plunge, and the only thing that remained was the final crescendo.

“The team plan today was to make sure that no one from Lotto and Wanty-Groupe went in a break," sports director Kim Andersen said. "We did not want to kill the team to defend the jersey at all costs on the first day. Luxembourg is not a mountainous country, but it is up and down the whole time with rolling hills; there is no flat. If a big breakaway went, we had to be there. So the three riders that went away was ideal – we took control of the race and Lotto helped with 50k to go. At the end they did a little more than us."

On the last of two local circuits in Hesperange the smell of a mass sprint finish was strong. Lotto-Belisol, sensing a great opportunity for the stage win, drove the pace. Trek Factory Racing sat behind the red-clad team, welcoming the brief adjournment from duty, until the escapees were caught with three kilometers to go.

The final scuffle was always going to be tough for young Van Poppel to best André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol), but the 20 year old put up strong resistance. As expected, Greipel sprinted to the victory as Van Poppel was nipped on the line by Michael Morkov (Tinkoff-Saxo) and settled for third.

“I am a little disappointed," Van Poppel said. "It was a hard day with the small climbs and at the end I really felt it in my legs. The team did a great job in taking early control and closing the gap. We asked Lotto to also help.

"It was a dangerous sprint like always, and a bit more with this race with the smaller teams here. Jasper [Stuyven] did a super job at the end. Greipel went early and I was thinking I was coming closer to him - I felt some power - but then suddenly empty legs when I needed it the most. Morkov passed me on the line; it was close for second. I’m okay with the third place.”

For Danny van Poppel he regarded today’s race with a touch of awe. To be the race leader, in yellow, and having the entire team ride the front to defend his lead was a moment to behold.

“It was cool to ride in the yellow jersey and the whole team on the front, the whole day, controlling. To have the Schlecks ride for me – that is special. The team we have here is fantastic; we hope to continue this in the next stages.”