Jasper Philipsen has consolidated himself as one of the best sprinters in the peloton, but this spring he will be testing himself as the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is almost riding a full cobbled classics campaign as he searches more success.
With the entry of Kaden Groves in the team to replace Tim Merlier, the now-World Tour team continues to have a lot of options for the sprints. That gives the opportunity for Belgian rider to race the country's most prestigious events, as he looks to perform over the cobbles this spring. Philipsen has not yet started his season, but that will happen at the opening weekend where he will race both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne.
Last season Philipsen started his season at the UAE Tour with two stage wins, before a successful season where he's also taken two victories at the Tour de France - including the Champs-Élysées. This year will have a different approach however as he tests out his legs in less controlled terrain, favouring the flatter races with obvious reasons.
Philipsen will race Tirreno-Adriatico and will race Milano-Sanremo where he should be an outsider, with Mathieu van der Poel being perhaps the first choice for the Belgian team. Whilst van der Poel will race the E3 Saxo Bank Classic and Tour des Flandres, Philipsen skips those two and has the chance to lead in the more sprinter-friendly classics.
The Classic Brugge-De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen will all be in the menu for the 24-year old. The sprinters' classic Scheldeprijs will also be in Philipsen's schedule, who will conclude the campaign with his third presence at Paris-Roubaix.
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