In spite of lacking out on a win at a level race for the primary time since 2022 on the UAE Excursion, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) used to be undeterred heading into Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the beginning of the Classics at Opening Weekend.
The Belgian sprinter opened his 2025 account within the Center East however misplaced out on all 4 alternatives for the quick males, along with his key opponents Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) sharing the spoils between them.
Alternatively, coming off the again of a tricky altitude camp in Spain and along with his focal point principally on biking’s greatest one-day races till April, Philipsen ended the week glad with the paintings he’d installed.
“I trained really hard the last couple of months, and it’s just easy spinning every day [in the UAE], which makes it different. I don’t have the fastest sprinting legs at the moment.
“However you can not examine this with the Classics; you simply have utterly other racing right here. I am simply proud of the week and having a look ahead to the following races.”
Even before it was confirmed that he would finish a stage race without a win for the first time since Paris-Nice three years ago, Philipsen wasn’t overly concerned about taking a victory. As the defending Milan-San Remo winner and two-time runner-up at Paris-Roubaix for the past two seasons, the Belgian is far more than just a sprinter.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“However we have now our larger objectives within the Classics arising, so we can do exactly what we will be able to, however there may be not anything misplaced if we can’t win a level.”
Philipsen’s versatility has shone through in recent years, with victories at the last two editions of the Classic Brugge-De Panne and fourth-place finishes in both Gent-Wevelegem and Dwars door Vlaanderen in the past two years.
While July and the Tour de France will remain the pinnacle for Philipsen in 2025, as a Belgian, the cobbled races and one-day Classics are what he’s prioritising for the coming months. He may not have been in top condition in the UAE, but with a strong base, Philipsen doesn’t think he is far off his best.
“Discovering most sensible form is actually person. For some other folks, that sharpness comes again actually briefly, however you additionally do not know what your opponents did for coaching,” Philipsen said before stage 5. “The sensation is alright for me. I will not be in most sensible form but, however it is coming.
“The focus is more towards Classics for me this year. I’d really like to win one again this year. We also put our shape curve into this period, so I’m really looking forward to the Classics. Hopefully, with some speed in the legs from some racing intensity here, it will sharpen me up.”
With all that mentioned, on the other hand, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne have tended to not be the 26-year-old’s favorite races, with out a higher consequence than thirty third within the former and twenty fourth within the latter thru his 4 appearances at every.
Philipsen shall be having a look to higher that document in 2025 along a robust Alpecin-Deceuninck roster for Omloop, which might lack Mathieu van der Poel’s presence however does characteristic Kaden Groves, Gianni Vermeersch, Oscar Riesebeek, Xandro Meurisse, Robbe Ghys, and Silvan Dillier.
At Kuurne on Sunday, the Belgian will once more race with Groves and Dillier over the 197km, with Jonas Rickaert, Johan Worth-Pejtersen, Timo Kielich and Simon Dehairs additionally taking the beginning.
Philipsen shall be one of the most out of doors favourites for each races given his talent over the bergs and hellingen in Flanders, on the other hand, he’ll most likely be hoping for both race to return right down to a reduced-group dash if he’s to web a maiden victory at Opening Weekend.
