For the second year running,
Jasper Philipsen won the sprint for second at
Paris-Roubaix and secured a one-two finish for
Alpecin-Deceuninck behind his teammate,
Mathieu van der Poel.
“We really outdid ourselves as a team,” reflects Philipsen in his post-race interview. “We didn't hesitate and took control of the race. With someone like Mathieu, who can start so early, it also makes it a little easier for us to play a little more defensively and ride more on the wheels and make the others nervous. I think we can say that we rode the perfect race.”
As Philipsen mentioned, van der Poel always carries the threat of an early attack, something he proved on Sunday afternoon, mounting the longest men's solo victory at Paris-Roubaix in 30 years. "You know that the others' hearts sink. I'm glad Mathieu lasted until the finish, I could never have done it to him," Philipsen assesses. "Did I immediately think of second place afterwards? We rode to win and I am extremely proud that we managed to do it again as a team, one and two. It's fantastic, something to be very proud of.”
“At the end I felt the energy leaving my body, but that was the case with everyone," he concludes. “I think there could be a party after this classic campaign. I think we definitely deserve it.”
