The Belgian won, on Friday, his third stage in as many sprints contested on this edition.
Disgusting. This is what Jasper Philipsen’s opponents must say to each other on Friday night. In Bordeaux, the sprinter from the Alpecin-Deceuninck team won his third victory in this edition, during the 7th stage from Mont-de-Marsan. The Belgian, still little known to the general public two years ago, has not left any crumbs to the competition since last year on the Tour, since he has won the last five massive packs straddling the two editions. We explain to you why the Flemish racing car has no competition on this Grande Boucle.
A linear progression and a click in 2022
Molded in the Balen-BC junior team, which joined forces this year with Soudal-Quick Step to become its development team, Jasper Philipsen turned professional in 2018 before joining the UAE-Emirates the following year. In two years, the native of Ham, a town on the road between Leuven and Eindhoven, brought back four victories, including a first on a Grand Tour, during the Vuelta 2020.
Moving to Alpecin-Deceuninck in 2021, Philipsen then changed in dimension: nine victories in his first year, including two in the Tour of Spain. But the Belgian dragster was still too green for the Tour de France, settling for second-curtain races where he could pile on wins and confidence. It was in 2022 that he finally gave his full measure: still nine bouquets, but above all two on the Tour de France.
Since then, it’s him that everyone fears: on Friday, he already reached the threshold of nine victories, and no one has managed to overtake him in the sprint on the Grande Boucle during the last five possibilities. “It’s amazing. As a person and as an athlete, Jasper has evolved. We too, as a team, I think we’re better at preparing for sprints,” welcomed his manager Philip Roodhooft. Philipsen has even extended his panoply this year, seeking second place in Paris-Roubaix behind… his teammate Mathieu van der Poel.
A team and a pilot fish perfectly developed
On Friday, Alpecin-Deceuninck, who has no leader for the general classification and is entirely dedicated to sprints, again performed his train (suite of runners who precede the sprinter) to perfection, dropping a hungry Philipsen just a few hundred meters from the line.
Ideally placed, the Belgian keeps a lot of energy in the wheels of his teammates, and can deliver enormous acceleration. “I think we can be very proud of the success of our team, without them I wouldn’t have won three stages already. I’m very proud of them, how they work together, how we manage to be in the end to do the maximum”Philipsen pointed out on Friday.
With the big rollers Silvan Dillier and Soren Kragh Andersen, the ushers Ramon Sinkeldam and Jonas Rickaert before the (ultra) luxury pilot fish Mathieu van der Poel, Philipsen only has to arise. “In the last three kilometers, we still had Jonas and Mathieu, and I didn’t have to make a big effort before starting my sprint. I can’t believe it, if you had said that to me a week ago, I would have thought you were crazy!”, traced the winner.
No one is mistaken, and the dark blue train now imposes. The last two years, it was that of… Deceuninck-Quick Step who made the law, now it’s Alpecin-Deceuninck and nobody seems able to dispute it. “It’s a logical development. It doesn’t mean we’re going to win every sprint, there’s definitely a day when we’re going to be beaten. That’s why you have to take advantage of the moment and be aware that we are living something extraordinary for the moment”recalls the manager of the team.
A galley adversity
Finally, if Philipsen imposes itself with so much ease, it is also because its competitors are all struggling in their own way to compete with it. Fabio Jakobsen, who fell heavily on the Nogaro circuit and reached the deadlines with difficulty in the Pyrenees, only has a top 5 on this edition. Caleb Ewan has two podiums but lacks support and stumbles on a Belgian bone. Biniam Girmay, who gleaned her first podium on Friday, is discovering the Grande Boucle and its unique requirements.
As for Mark Cavendish, dolphin of Philipsen on Friday, he is perhaps his most dangerous opponent with Ewan. Unfortunately for him, the “Isle of Man Missile”, in the lead at 200 meters, suffered a chain jump which doomed his chances. “My channel jumped, there was nothing to do…I’m very disappointed. I think I could have beaten Philipsen (without this string break). And I imagine there are a few teams that think the same thing.” railed the man with 34 stage victories on the Tour. “Cavendish was very strong, I would have loved to see him win, I think everyone does. I’m sure he’s going to keep trying, he’s there, he’s in good shape, he’s going to be hard to beat”warned the one who will definitely be able to put away his nickname “Jasper Disaster”.
With three victories in one week, Philipsen supported the already well underwater lead of its competitors. If he wins a fourth during this edition, the 25-year-old Belgian will join the closed club of quadruple-winning sprinters in a single edition since 2010, along with Marcel Kittel (2013, 2014 and 2017), André Greipel (2015) and Mark Cavendish (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2021).