Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen form dream team - Alpecin-Deceuninck or 2024 Tour de France
Cycling
Alpecin-Deceuninck are set for the Tour de France where they will chase stage wins and the points classification. In the lead we have the same riders who had a terrific 2023 race: Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel.
Philipsen won four stages and came close to winning several more at last year's race, proving to be by far the best sprinter in the race - capable of positioning himself very well, but having the support of a very successful leadout. Van der Poel was the key piece of this leadout in 2023, testing himself in the spring and then successfully implementing this tactic during the Tour to great success. He then went on to win the World Championships weeks later in Glasgow. The Belgian team may opt to do the exact same thing this time around, as van der Poel is eyeing the Olympic Games in Paris which also coincidentally comes right after the Tour.
Van der Poel will also have the chance to fight for a few stage wins, although the Tour does not prevent adequate profiles for a rider like him in general. Axel Laurance and Soren Kragh Andersen instead may be better options for some of the hilly days when they hunt for breakaways. Both have good chances of succeeding if they find their best form, whilst under-23 World Champion Laurance can be a key leadout on hilly finales.
Gianni Vermeersch, sixth at Paris-Roubaix, is another classics specialist who may find his opportunity in some breakaways. The rest of the team will be dedicated to help Philipsen in the sprints with Jonas Rickaert and Robbe Ghys being strong riders for the fast finales; whilst Silvan Dillier is expected to spend long kilometers in the front of the peloton throughout the race.
Alpecin-Deceuninck for Tour de France:
Jasper Philipsen
Mathieu van der Poel
Jonas Rickaert
Axel Laurance
Robbe Ghys
Gianni Vermeersch
Silvan Dillier
Soren Kragh Andersen
Mathieu van der Poel
Jonas Rickaert
Axel Laurance
Robbe Ghys
Gianni Vermeersch
Silvan Dillier
Soren Kragh Andersen
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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