“Pogacar is almost unbeatable — but with Van der Poel we can do it”: Jasper Philipsen outlines new Classics focus after turbulent season

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”