"You get to know Jasper better and better" - Jonas Rickaert pleased with his developing relationship with Jasper Philipsen

For Jonas Rickaert, 2023 was a year in which he worked tirelessly and very successfully for Jasper Philipsen in the leadouts. Given Philipsen took a world-leading 19 victories this year it's fair to say the partnership is working well.

“I would have liked to end the season in Turkey (where Philipsen booked four stage victories, ed.) and that was also planned," Rickaert reviews his season in conversation with Wielerflits. "But I took action earlier, in March, so that's just how it is. But I am very happy that I have had a nice share in a lot of victories.”

Although he's been with the team since 2020, this was actually the first season in which he and Philipsen really worked closely together. “Yes, you get to know Jasper better and better. I hadn't ridden much with him in recent years, that was more with Tim Merlier two years ago," he explains. "But this year it was full of Jasper. You get to know each other better, because you know what he likes towards the sprint. We can therefore go into next year with a good feeling.”

Looking ahead to next year, Rickaert is hoping for more of the same from Alpecin-Deceuninck. "Making the selection is always difficult, but the Grand Tour suits me best. I prefer to go there and the weather is nice, usually. You already have that certainty. But we'll see. It is important to have the best possible share in Jasper's lead outs, also in the spring," he previews. "I just think it's really nice when you see Jasper, or someone else, put their hands in the air. You are really part of it, then that is a victory in itself for me. I don't think I'm the rider who can win three races a year, maybe a fair race once in a while. Or I have to luckily slip away from a leading group somewhere. But winning has become so difficult these days that I prefer to play the role of servant.”