"Is it the end of the world if the win doesn't come?" - Adrie van der Poel reacts to Philipsen and Alpecin frustration at Tour de France
Cycling
Adrie van der Poel wonders if Alpecin - Premier Tech will win a stage of the 2026 Tour de France, After three failed sprint attempts with son Mathieu leading out Jasper Philipsen, the legendary Dutch cyclist thinks it's not the worst thing in the world.
Sprint and classics team Alpecin have enjoyed incredible success since their emergence at La Grand Boucle, winning at least two stages in every edition since 2021. With Philipsen, Van der Poel and Kaden Groves taking wins last summer, their search for victory could be heading into the second week.
Sprint leader Philipsen has endured little success in sprint finishes on stages 5, 7 and 8 this week, finishing twice fifth before fourth on Saturday. There was extra disappointment after the latest result after van der Poel's lead-out left Philipsen in prime position with around 200 meters to go.
A surging Tim Merlier took his second stage in a row as he made a resounding comeback from an unfavourable position with 350 meters left, sprinting from much further than his rivals - most of which in the wind.
"The difficult thing about Tim's sprint is that he was very tall. And holding that up until the end is incredibly impressive," Adrie van der Poel told WielerRevue.
Adrie van der Poel on Philipsen sprints
For Alpecin and van der Poel, it was a missed opportunity - of which there aren't many more remaining in the race. However, he doesn't believe the team should lose faith in his ability to deliver. He believes the finer details can fall into place.
He continued: "I thought his sprint was a lot better than yesterday. As the footballers say: he grows into the tournament. Jasper just doesn't quite have it right now.
"But that difference lies in very small details. It could be that he wins the next sprint. You shouldn't let him down now. That would be the worst thing a team could do."
Could Alpecin not win a stage at 2026 Tour?
The team are serial winners at the Tour de France but van der Poel isn't too anxious about rediscovering their winning touch.
He added: "We've already been spoiled with many victories. Is it the end of the world if the win doesn't come? I think that in our situation, it won't be that bad. We've had to wait a long time for a victory before."
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Sunday's stage offers a new opportunity, but not one for Philipsen. A hilly stage, shortened by 30 kilometers due to the heat, could be one for Mathieu van der Poel and his father thinks so.
"It looks like a stage for him. But the stage has been shortened, which is going to make it all even more nerve-wracking," Adrie said.
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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