"I never thought I would become anything like a GC rider" - Jasper Philipsen wins his second stage race of the season

Jasper Philipsen won the final stage of the Renewi Tour, securing his second overall victory of the season. This was his third stage win in the 2026 edition, demonstrating his dominance in the race. Philipsen rose from chaos, with several sprinter opponents involved in crashes over previous days, clearing his path to victory in stages like Ardooie, Bilzen-Hoeselt, and Leuven. In the general classification, he finished ahead of Jenno Berckmoes and Olav Kooij. Philipsen praised his Alpecin-Premier Tech teammates for their efforts, stating, 'The team was motivated for the overall victory. Everyone did their best and rode for all they were worth.' He did not finish outside the top-4 in any stage, marking a positive signal for the remainder of the season. Philipsen reflected on his career progression, admitting he never expected to become a general classification rider but now considers a five-day stage race without a time trial suited to him. His two overall victories in short stage races are notable for a sprinter. Philipsen also highlighted the importance of his victories for his sponsors and the team. Upcoming races include the Bretagne Classic. Ondřej Zhasil, a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate, covers professional cycling, focusing on team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios. He specializes in junior cycling and East Asian competitions, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics.