"I had my doubts for a moment" - Jasper Philipsen relieved to survive Jumbo-Visma protest with stage win still intact

He was made to wait for it after a Jumbo-Visma complaint, but Jasper Philipsen is officially the winner of stage 3 at the 2023 Tour de France. Speaking afterwards, he admits it was a nervous wait.

"I had my doubts for a moment, but that's how they make it exciting," the Belgian sprinter laughed after the Race Jury took an age to mull over the decision of whether or not Philipsen had hindered Wout van Aert in the final sprint to the line.

"It was tense, but this is the Tour and no presents are handed out. Everyone goes all in. I am very proud of the team, Jonas and Mathieu did a perfect job. I'm glad I could keep it up," continues the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider, before praising the brilliant leadout by Mathieu van der Poel. "Mathieu is great. If he has room to go and can pick up speed, then no one can beat him. It was dangerous with that fence, so I took the fastest way to the finish. Luckily I was able to keep it up."

“There was a lot of stress, everyone is motivated for that first sprint opportunity. In the last seventy kilometres, it was nervous, but that's part of it," he concludes and Philipsen isn't done yet either. "We're going for another stage win, but we're also trying to fight for the green."