“Pogacar is almost unbeatable — but with Van der Poel we can do it”: Jasper Philipsen outlines new Classics focus after turbulent season
Cycling
After a season marked by both triumph and turbulence, Jasper Philipsen says his sights are shifting — from bunch sprints to the brutal cobbles of the Classics.
The Belgian star, speaking to Tutto Bici Web after closing his year at the Tour de France EFGH Singapore Criterium, revealed that Alpecin-Deceuninck want him to invest more energy into the one-day monuments that define early spring.
“The team is trying to push me more towards the Classics, especially at the start of the season,” Philipsen explained. “That naturally means focusing less on pure sprints, but that’s not a problem. Fighting for wins in races I dream of — like Roubaix — is something special.”
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A changing identity
At 27, Philipsen is entering the phase of his career where riders often redefine themselves. His blend of top-end speed and endurance has already made him one of the peloton’s most dangerous sprinters, but he believes that development can continue in other directions.
“You always try to improve, but once you reach a certain level, the gains are smaller,” he admitted. “It’s not like when you’re 15 and can add 20 watts every year — now it’s about fine-tuning the engine and finding small improvements.”
Those refinements could soon make Philipsen a Classics powerhouse rather than simply a Grand Tour stage hunter. “It’s a nice challenge,” he said. “Winning bunch sprints is one thing, but being able to fight for victory in the biggest one-day races in the world — that’s another feeling entirely.”
Beating Pogacar — the ultimate puzzle
Among the men standing between Philipsen and a cobbled breakthrough is Tadej Pogacar, who stunned many with his Paris-Roubaix debut earlier this year. Yet despite calling the Slovenian “almost unbeatable”, Philipsen insists the right team strategy can still bring him down.
“We don’t really focus too much on rivals,” he said, “but if Tadej is on the start line, he’s obviously one of the favourites — whether it’s a flat Classic or one with climbs. He’s almost unbeatable, but with our team and with Mathieu van der Poel], we have the strength to play the team card and try to beat him.”
That word — team — is key. For Philipsen, riding alongside the former world champion offers both security and motivation. Their one-two punch, honed over the last few years, could prove decisive when racing over the cobbles in 2026.
“With Mathieu there, we know we can make the race aggressive and unpredictable,” Philipsen said. “That’s when we’re at our best.”
Still hungry for speed
Despite his growing appetite for Classics success, Philipsen isn’t abandoning the fast finishes that made his name. The Tour de France, he insists, remains the “main objective” — a race that still defines his season.
“A.S.O. always try to make the race more exciting,” he said. “This change means more scenarios are possible — from a bunch sprint to late attacks. It’ll make the stage more open and more thrilling.”
The next chapter
Having already pulled on both the yellow jersey at the Tour and the red jersey at the Vuelta this year, Philipsen’s ambitions now extend beyond pure speed. His 2026 campaign is being built not just around winning, but around versatility — and proving that sprinters can evolve without losing their instinct.
“Cycling is always about passion and emotion,” he said. “That’s what keeps you moving forward — whatever the goal.”
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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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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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