“From here on out, things are going to get tough” – Jasper Philipsen unsure he’ll finish 2025 Vuelta a Espana

Jasper Philipsen has already left a decisive mark on the 2025 Vuelta a Espana, but whether he’ll be around to contest the final stage in Madrid remains uncertain — even to the man himself.

“From here on out, things are going to get tough in this Vuelta,” Philipsen admitted in comments collected by HLN. “I’ll only step off the bike if I feel like I’m no longer improving, and just digging myself into a hole.”

It’s a pragmatic stance from the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter, who has already impressed with victories in Stage 1 and Stage 8. The opening day win in Novara earned him the race’s first red jersey, while his sprint to victory in Zaragoza reinforced his reputation as the fastest finisher in the peloton.

The road ahead is mountainous — literally. With most of the remaining stages featuring serious climbing, including multiple summit finishes, sprinters like Philipsen face a daily battle just to stay within the time limit. Still, the 27-year-old Belgian isn’t treating the back half of the race as a mere survival mission. “I want to turn these next eleven days into a sort of training camp,” he said. “If I can get through it, I’ll be in great shape heading into the final part of the season.”

It’s a strategic move with late-season goals in mind. But Philipsen hasn’t ruled out making it to Madrid entirely, especially with two more flat stages potentially on offer for the sprinters: Stage 19 to Guijuelo and the final day’s procession into the Spanish capital.

With his two stage wins in this year’s Vuelta, Philipsen now sits on 15 career Grand Tour stage victories, consolidating his position as one of the most successful sprinters of his generation.

For now, though, the Belgian sprinter faces his toughest test yet: not the finish line, but the mountains in between.