Jasper Philipsen returned to winning ways with a hard-fought
sprint victory on Stage 2 of the Baloise Belgium Tour, just his second win of
the 2025 season. As the countdown to the Tour de France enters its final
fortnight, the Alpecin–Deceuninck sprinter is hoping that a weekend of racing
in the Ardennes will sharpen his form both mentally and physically.
“That way I can gain extra condition and toughness for the
Tour,” he told Het Nieuwsblad, outlining his intention to go deep on
Saturday’s hilly stage.
Philipsen has good memories of this terrain. In 2024, he
surprised many by holding firm in the Ardennes stage to Durbuy and finishing
third, before sealing fourth place in the final general classification. Once
again, he is adopting a pragmatic approach: “I will now race with an open mind
again, even though I know that there are other riders who can handle that
terrain more easily.
"Experience has taught me that with a view to the first
Tour week, it can't hurt to gain extra fitness and toughness by racing along at
full speed. That's what I'm going to do.”
The Belgian sprinter will arrive at the Tour with unfinished
business. In 2024, he lost the green jersey to Biniam Girmay, an outcome that
marked a changing of the guard in the points classification but left Philipsen
hungry to reclaim his title in 2025.
His morale appears to be improving at the right time. He was
upbeat after Friday’s time trial, won by Ethan Hayter in surprising fashion
ahead of Filippo Ganna. For Philipsen, the experience held more than just
athletic value. “They clearly still remember me here,” he said, alluding to his
local ties to the region.
Now the question is whether Philipsen can back up Friday’s
performance with strong results over the weekend. Saturday’s Ardennes-style
stage will be a physical test, but Sunday’s finale in Brussels offers a more
traditional sprint opportunity, albeit not one without complications.
“That is possible,” Philipsen said when asked if he could
win again this weekend. “But in Brussels we have a difficult sprint ahead of
us. One that does not suit me 100 percent. The line is drawn after a bend. Good
timing is crucial. But I will do my utmost. Will I succeed? Then I will gain
extra confidence with a view to the upcoming assignments.”
Those upcoming assignments, of course, include the biggest
race of the year. Philipsen is widely expected to headline Alpecin–Deceuninck’s
Tour de France squad, alongside Mathieu van der Poel, with ambitions of stage
wins and the points jersey. After a comparatively quiet spring in terms of wins,
a late build up of condition and confidence could be the final piece in
Philipsen’s Tour puzzle.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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