The retirement of Mark Cavendish serves as a reminder that the sprint hierarchy in the Tour de France is constantly evolving. The fate of Sam Bennett, the Irishman who seemed unbeatable in the 2020 race but has faced setbacks due to injury and team politics, is also uncertain. While Bennett recently won two stages in Romania’s Sibiu Tour, it remains to be seen if and when Cavendish will return after his collarbone injury.
Even before Cavendish left the Tour last week, it was evident that Jasper Philipsen had emerged as the new No. 1 sprinter in the pack. Philipsen has won a total of six stages in 2022 and 2023, including three wins in the first week and an additional victory in Moulins. With the departure of Fabio Jakobsen and Caleb Ewan, it is clear that Philipsen is the dominant sprinter in the Tour. He is also poised to win the green points jersey in Paris.
This is a stark contrast to earlier events in the 2022 Tour when Philipsen faced repeated disappointment with second or third place finishes. His nickname “Jasper disaster” seemed fitting at the time, but he has since proven himself as the most successful Tour sprinter since Cavendish. While Philipsen has two or possibly three remaining chances to further his unbeaten record, the mountainous profile of this year’s Tour makes it unlikely that he will equal the record of eight stage victories held by Charles Pélissier, Eddy Merckx, and Freddy Maertens.
Several factors have contributed to Philipsen’s rise. The departure of Tim Merlier from the Alpecin-Deceuninck team has opened up opportunities for Philipsen within the squad. It has taken time for Philipsen to establish himself at the Dutch team, but his partnership with team leader Mathieu van der Poel has flourished this year. Van der Poel’s explosive acceleration has complemented Philipsen’s sprinting abilities.
However, there have been concerns about Van der Poel’s aggressive style in the final kilometer, even in a discipline where risks are inherent. Philipsen has faced criticism from fans of Cavendish and Biniam Girmay who believe that he and Van der Poel have crossed the line. Despite this, the referees have only issued a warning to Van der Poel after an incident involving Girmay.
Like Remco Evenepoel, the current star of Belgian cycling, Philipsen initially started his sporting journey as a football player before turning to cycling due to a BMX injury. He shares a hometown, Mol, with former superstar Tom Boonen, with whom he used to go on casual bike rides early in his career. Philipsen has now matched Boonen’s career total of six Tour stages and has the opportunity to win the green jersey, much like Boonen did in 2007.
The next promising sprinter to watch out for is Dutch rider Olav Kooij. At just 21 years old, Kooij is set to make his Grand Tour debut with Jumbo-Visma next year. Despite his young age, Kooij has already achieved success in second-tier events and has won stages at Paris-Nice and the Four Days of Dunkirk.
While Philipsen currently dominates the Tour sprints, the nature of the sport means that things can change quickly. It is uncertain how long Philipsen’s dominance will last, but for now, he is the sprinter to watch in the Tour de France.
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