“That's why you should never give up, and he didn't”: Van der Poel and Roodhooft praise Philipsen after long-awaited Tour victory
CyclingThursday, 23 July 2026 at 03:00
Jasper Philipsen finally returned to the top step of the podium at the 2026 Tour de France after winning a demanding stage into Voiron. The Belgian's long-awaited success delighted both former rider Adrie van der Poel and Alpecin-Premier Tech boss Philip Roodhooft, who praised Philipsen's resilience after several sprint defeats earlier in the race.
Van der Poel defends Philipsen and questions green jersey battle
Philipsen had gone close several times during this year's Tour, only to be beaten by faster rivals. According to Adrie van der Poel, the Belgian never let those disappointments affect his confidence. “I think so, yes. But that's why you should never give up, and he didn't,” he said.
Van der Poel also felt the technical finish suited Philipsen perfectly after such a demanding stage. “In the finale there were some sprinters who had suffered a little more than Jasper. This is a finish that suits him well. A bit of twisting and turning, where you can position yourself very well.”
He believed some riders in the early breakaway made tactical mistakes by refusing to cooperate. “It was a bizarre stage, with a big group getting away and then small groups bridging across. Some riders in the breakaway didn't want to work and immediately started gambling. But first you have to race before you can gamble.”
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Van der Poel also revisited the battle for the green jersey, arguing that Mads Pedersen had effectively secured the competition after what he considered an illegal intermediate sprint earlier in the week. “Pedersen decided the green jersey battle in an irregular sprint.”
He referred to an incident where Pedersen moved across the road while sprinting against Philipsen and Biniam Girmay. “We all want consistency, and then things like that shouldn't happen. But in the end, we didn't make a big issue out of it. We simply said we'd go all out for a stage victory. And this is the result.”
Looking ahead to the final stage in Paris, Van der Poel refused to speculate about Mathieu van der Poel's chances. “First they have to survive these next three days, because if the racing continues like this in the mountains, a lot of riders will struggle just to finish inside the time limit.”
Alpecin boss elated with Philipsen's victory
Alpecin-Premier Tech boss Philip Roodhooft was equally delighted after Philipsen finally converted one of his opportunities into victory. “The team believed all day that we could put Jasper in a winning position. It's a relief, but also a great reward.”
Roodhooft stressed that every rider played an important part in the success. “We shouldn't forget anyone in the team. Take Verstrynge, for example, who did essential work in the chase. We have to be happy with the whole group.”
The Belgian manager admitted the missed opportunities earlier in the Tour had weighed heavily on Philipsen. “That was eating away at Jasper. He couldn't finish off a sprint, but he also never gave up. For a sprinter, that's always disappointing. It says a lot about him that he kept believing. Now he's been rewarded.”
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Roodhooft also highlighted Mathieu van der Poel's decisive contribution after neutralizing Per Strand Hagenes' late attack before delivering another perfect lead-out.
“That lead-out was straight out of the textbook. For the third time in this Tour. It also shows how important the team is to him.”
While Philipsen could still challenge for the green jersey, Roodhooft believes the biggest reward is finally getting the stage victory that had eluded him.
“You'll have to ask Jasper how much this means to him, but everyone can imagine the pressure he was under. He missed a few chances, but he kept believing. This opportunity looked much smaller, which makes the satisfaction even greater.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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