Jasper Philipsen won the bunch sprint from the peloton on stage 18 at the 2023 Tour de France. Sadly for the Belgian however, three riders from the day's breakaway had already crossed the line.
"We didn't miscalculate," insists Alpecin-Deceuninck's team manager Christoph Roodhooft in a post-stage interview. “The breakaway was certainly strong. Victor Campenaerts was very strong, he did most of the work. We came close. One more man would have been enough."
Roodhooft had hoped for more help from other teams in the finale. "I hoped that Intermarché-Circus-Wanty would ride along at the end. However, they only did one short header. I have no complaints about the other teams," he explains. "We knew that a bunch sprint for first place would be difficult, and it has also come true."
“At the moment of the Tour, everyone is very tired. We knew that Kasper Asgreen (eventual stage winner) was in good shape and he was along with Campenaerts, two strong riders. They know how the game works and know their bodies very well, this was the result," Roodhooft continues. “Tomorrow will be even more difficult for a bunch sprint. The breakaway will be strong and probably go to the finish. I think we have a potential contender for the escape with Mathieu Van der Poel."
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