A few days ago, a comment made by Jasper Philipsen at the Tour de France sent shockwaves through Belgium when he said "I will not ride behind Van der Poel to close the gap at the World Championship." As his selection for the team has now been confirmed, the Belgian coach reveals that Philipsen has apologised.
"It was a sudden question he got in the Tour. At that moment, with the teammates next to you, it influences your answer. I think he will think differently after the Tour," says Sven Vanthourenhout in quotes collected by Sporza. "Jasper immediately apologized. I also think he regretted it, so I never made a point of it."
Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel have proved to be the best lead out/sprinter combination at the Tour de France with the Alpecin-Deceuninck' Belgian having grabbed four stage wins so far and holding an extremely comfortable lead in the battle for the Green Jersey. With van der Poel set to be one of the big favourites to take the rainbow jersey the pair could be set to go head-to-head in Glasgow.
"I immediately communicated that to the others. It never got the chance to live. Everyone understood how things like that go," continues Vanthourenhout. "Last year it was clear that Philipsen was not yet ready for the World Championship in Wollongong. Even in February I had doubts. But he has evolved so much that he more than deserved his spot."
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