“My bike throw at the end was just enough” – Jasper Philipsen edges Olav Kooij in photo finish to reclaim Renewi Tour lead
Cycling
Jasper Philipsen needed a perfectly timed bike throw to beat Olav Kooij in Bilzen, claiming his second stage victory of the Renewi Tour and returning to the top of the overall standings. The two sprinters crossed the line almost together after 187.3 kilometres from Riemst, with the result only settled by a photo finish.
“It was very close with Olav, and I think my bike throw at the end was just enough to give me the victory,” Philipsen said in his post-stage interview.
The ten-second winner’s bonus moved the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider four seconds ahead of Jenno Berckmoes, while Kooij’s second place left him third overall at ten seconds.
Kragh Andersen forces chase into final kilometre
Philipsen and Kooij were only able to contest the finish after Soren Kragh Andersen’s late attack was brought back with approximately 600 metres remaining.
The Lidl-Trek rider escaped following the Green Kilometre and opened a 17-second advantage over a peloton reluctant to commit to the chase. He survived an acceleration on the Letenberg and still held 12 seconds with two kilometres remaining.
“He went at a good moment, when things eased off a little in the bunch, and immediately opened up a big gap,” Philipsen explained. “He’s a strong rider with a good time trial in his legs.”
Netcompany INEOS had contributed to the pursuit before Unibet Rose Rockets closed the remaining gap in the final kilometre. Biniam Girmay launched the sprint, but Philipsen and Kooij emerged alongside one another on the rising road towards the finish. Philipsen’s final bike throw settled the contest and secured a second victory in three days following his success in Ardooie.
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) l'emporte de justesse sur la 4e étape du #RenewiTour ! Le Belge (28 ans) saute Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM), récupérant au passage le maillot de leader. L'Italien Alessandro Borgo (Bahrain Victorious) est 3e.
— Velotv à la Tv (@velotvfr) August 22, 2026
pic.twitter.com/kewKgrRawh
Four-second lead sets up Leuven decider
Berckmoes had started the stage six seconds ahead of Philipsen after winning Friday’s queen stage in Geraardsbergen, and Lotto Intermarché spent much of the afternoon trying to protect his position.
Lionel Taminiaux won the opening Green Kilometre sprint from the breakaway, helping prevent Philipsen and Kooij from collecting bonus seconds before the finish.
Arnaud De Lie then drove the pace on the Letenberg in an attempt to distance the sprinters, sacrificing his own position in the process. Philipsen and Kooij survived the acceleration, leaving Berckmoes exposed once Kragh Andersen’s attack was caught. “It’s a very difficult stage,” Philipsen said of Sunday’s finale. “The racing will definitely be hard, but we’ll do everything we can to secure the overall victory.”
The Renewi Tour concludes with a 184-kilometre stage starting and finishing in Leuven.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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