"He was just missing the legs a bit I think" - Mathieu van der Poel is not sad about defeat on Champs-Élysées

No fifth stage victory for Jasper Philipsen in this Tour de France. The Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter could not grab a back-to-back Champs-Élysées victory, despite a good lead-out from Mathieu van der Poel.

"I think we did perfect again with the team," he told Eurosport. "It was very hectic, but I think I did a good lead-out to drop him off," Van der Poel continued. "He was just missing the legs a bit I think. But he has already ridden such a great Tour. Four stage victories, the green. We couldn't have wished for more."

Read also

Mikel Landa reacts to disappointing Tour de France: "I arrived with that fear and for many reasons it didn't go well"

"Maybe I could have done my own sprint, but I think Jasper showed how fast he is," says the Dutchman now. "We were still watching the video from last year win. How fast he fired out of there… Today he just had worse legs, he told me. That is nothing to be ashamed of."

How does Van der Poel view his own Tour? "As classic riders, we don't get too many chances. And in week two I was sick. On two chances I had there, I was not at my top level. That was a pity, but I'm already happy that I got better and recovered in the third week. Today I was pretty good again. I am happy with that."

Read also

"Pogacar always wants to race, I don't get that with Vingegaard" - Serge Pauwels evaluates stage 20 duel

Prize Money Tour de France 2023 - Full guide to how €2.308.029 will be split between teams