Jasper Philipsen was relegated from his 2nd place. Yes, he was faster than Wout imo and he closed the door very smoothly on him but I still think it was the right decision by the commisaires. 👍🏻 He plays too often with fire. 📽️ @Domestique___ #TDF2024
"I do feel targeted" - Jasper Philipsen fears relegation by Tour de France jury might ruin future sprints
CyclingSaturday, 06 July 2024 at 14:30
After a stunning performance at the 2023 Tour de France, winning four stages and taking home the Green Jersey, Jasper Philipsen has been unable to replicate that form at the 2024 edition as of yet.
Having been relegated from 2nd on the stage 6 bunch sprint after the race jury deemed Philipsen had dangerous diverted from his sprinting line, putting the safety of compatriot Wout van Aert at risk, the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter now fears he will continue to be targeted in the bunch sprints, ruining any hopes the Belgian might have of taking some success from the 2024 Tour de France.
“It was a serious pile-up of disappointments, you could say," Philipsen says in quotes collected by Wielerflits. "First of all, you are disappointed because you don't have a good first week and because everything seems to be going wrong. But then those two messages from the jury still had to come. I can tell you that I didn't stay positive the whole time. Especially because I was initially unaware of any wrongdoing.”
“At no point did I have the intention to endanger a colleague. That is why those decisions hit me so hard,” continues Philipsen, expressing his concerns for how this might start effecting his sprints in the stages still to come over the next two weeks in this Grand Tour. “After what happened on Thursday, I do feel targeted. Much worse things have happened in the past.”
"I know that I shouldn't tense up in the upcoming sprint opportunities, but that's easier said than done," the 26-year-old, six time Tour de France stage winner concludes glumly. "Up until now, I've sprinted purely on instinct. I'm afraid that something like that will become more difficult and that I'll have to be more aware of my movements during such a final sprint."
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