"If a choice has to be made between Van der Poel and the green jersey" - Alpecin face Paris dilemma at Tour de France
CyclingThursday, 23 July 2026 at 12:45
Alpecin-Premier Tech took a second stage victory in the 2026 Tour de France on Wednesday as Jasper Philipsen took a sprint win from the day's breakaway. Thanks in no small part from the tireless teamwork of Mathieu van der Poel, the Belgian made it 11 wins at La Grand Boucle.
Looking ahead, the final stage of the Tour offers a golden opportunity for Mathieu van der Poel, one that he may well have had circled for some time. With three ascents of the Montmartre climb on a revamped finale after last year's debut, the classics men could have their say in Paris.
The Dutchman, winner of the World Championships, Paris Roubaix and Tour of Flanders in an iconic career, could be targeting a Champs-Elysees triumph to add to his palmares. However, there is on problem: his team might have other designs on how to manage the stage.
Philipsen's win on Wednesday has put him within a fingertip of the green jersey lead of Mads Pedersen, trailing by just seven points, meaning that the points classification could be in contention on the streets of Paris. In that case, Philipsen could well have ambitions on the stage too.
With van der Poel's engine and explosive power a key asset to the team in their bid to maximise Philipsen's input in the green jersey race, it's been speculated whether Alpecin could well have the Dutchman work in service of Philipsen rather than for his own goals.
Van der Poel or green jersey bid?
"Van der Poel may well have come to the Tour specifically for that stage," José De Cauwer pondered the potential choice on the Sporza Tour Podcast.
"If a choice has to be made between Van der Poel and the green jersey, let's say that a victory for Van der Poel is a greater certainty than the green jersey for Philipsen. So it seems to me that they will choose Van der Poel."
However, the green jersey may well be out of reach by the time the mountains arrive, with Pedersen and Lidl-Trek a formidable opposition who could try to make the jersey out of Philipsen and the sprinters' reach before Paris arrives.
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"You heard that in his interview too; the green jersey was the least of his worries," said Serge Pauwels in response.
"Pedersen is capable of putting his team at the front in the coming days to quickly drop Philipsen in the mountains."
Ultimately, de Cauwer sees the green jersey taking priority if the prestigious jersey is in play by the finale, concluding: "If it is still possible to take the green jersey at that moment, then I consider it highly likely that they will actually do so."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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