"The team and Mathieu did a great job again" - Jasper Philipsen brings back Alpecin-Deceuninck to the top step

Jasper Philipsen started his season late but with power. He's proven to be the most successful sprinter at Tirreno-Adriatico as he won the final stage win, the second win of the season for Alpecin-Deceuninck.

“We were in a good position, because we were very motivated after the previous sprint win. We knew it was possible to win again. The team and Mathieu did a great job again," Philipsen said in a post-race interview. It was a tough day on the bike as the eight-rider breakaway pushed the peloton to the very limit, and proved to be a worthy challenge for the sprinter teams who had some urgency to cancel the attacks towards the end.

Mathieu van der Poel once again managed to take to the front in the end, and against stronger and more experienced leadouts, Philipsen - unlike several others - found himself near the front. What followed was a powerful sprint where he beat Dylan Groenewegen.

The Belgian is aiming high this spring, having races such as Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. However, Milano-Sanremo will be the next race on his schedule. “I also hope to be good in the classics. My sprint is at a good level. But I also want to show my level in the classics," he concluded.