Luke Lamperti opened up the turbos Thursday to win the sprint in the lumpy, 163km stage 1 to open the Czech Tour.
The 22-year-old Soudal Quick-Step rider beat Davide Donati (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe Rookies) and Gleb Syritsa (XRG-Astana Development) to score his first win of 2025.
In fact, it’s Lamperti’s first victory since winning the exact stage to open last year’s Czech Tour.
“It’s nice to get the win after all the work the team did today and I’m happy I could get my first victory of the year here, in a race where I have some nice memories,” Lamperti said. “It was really warm all day, but we managed to overcome it with a lot of drinks and ice. In the sprint, the guys were just fantastic, and left me in a position from where I couldn’t miss.
“It feels good to be on the top step of the podium and on Saturday we’ll try to go for another sprint,” said Lamperti, who takes the leader’s jersey into Friday’s stage. “Until then, we will do our best to support Junior.”
Reportedly heading to EF Education-EasyPost next season, Lamperti has been close a few times to winning this year. He’s also been doing top leadouts for Paul Magnier and Tim Merlier across the classics and at the Giro d’Italia.
This spring, he hit podiums with third at the Danilith Nokere Koerse and second at the Bredene Koksijde Classic in Belgium.
The victory counts as Lamperti’s fifth of his pro career and his second since joining the WorldTour level with Soudal Quick-Step last season.
Take-off for Luke Lamperti
The American flies to the first stage of the Czech Tour with a powerful sprint. pic.twitter.com/WKbSqDm7yS
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) August 14, 2025