Philipsen Snags Fastest Ever Edition of Gent-Wevelgem, a First for His Team

Jasper Philipsen snagged his first win in Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday, avoiding possible disaster after Mathieu van der Poel was caught with just over a kilometer to go.

The win was, remarkably, the first-ever for his Alpecin-Premier Tech team, which has otherwise has picked up many of the big spring classics.

Van der Poel was prominent in the race, which has been clunkily rebranded this year as In Flanders Fields-From Middelkerke to Wevelgem. He put in a powerful performance on the climb of Kemmelberg-Ossuaire with 35km to go, going over the summit with only arch-rival Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) for company.

Those two hammered it towards the finish, trading strong pulls to fend off Florian Vermeersch (UAE Emirates-XRG), and were later joined by Alec Segaert (Bahrain-Victorious). However all three were caught around the kilometer to go point.

Filippo Ganna was instrumental in that recapture, the Italian putting in a watt-packed performance to try to set up Ineos Grenadiers teammate Sam Watson.

Philipsen was momentarily blocked in but found space just in time and outsprinted Tobias Lund Andersen (Decathlon CMA CGM). Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) took third.

“It is my 60th [win] but remember it is one I have been chasing already for a long time,” he said at the finish. “It is a classic that I wanted to win already for many years but never really had the legs in the end.

“Everything came together today and I was ready to take the victory.”

Wiebes lands record third win, but almost messes things up

Meanwhile in the women’s race Lorena Wiebes made history, becoming the first rider of either gender to win three consecutive editions. She is also the first woman to take more than two titles.

The SD Worx-ProTime rider outsprinted Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek) and Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ), with Elise Chabbey (FDJ United Suez) and Eleonora Gasparrini (UAE Team ADQ) next over the line.

Wiebes was in formidable form during the race, being part of a 14 rider group created by Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) on the Baneberg and then driving the pace on the final ascent of the Kemmelberg to form the break of five.

“I felt that I had good legs and I thought: why don’t I decide the pace myself on the Kemmel?” Wiebes said, according to Sporza.

“I could go faster, so why not? We rode away with a good group and everyone cooperated.”

UAE had numerical advantage and Gasparrini put in a big attack with just under 4km to go. Wiebes was forced to do the chasing herself but got the attacker back. Surprisingly, Swinkels didn’t counter.

Moors was glued to Wiebes wheel in the sprint and when the latter celebrated too early, she almost got past her by the line.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have given my lead-out car another heart attack,” Wiebes said, referring to a gaffe in the 2024 Amstel Gold Race which enabled Marianne Vos to win. “I might have celebrated a bit too early again, but it was enough.

“I accelerated 300 meters from the finish and scared a few people. I could have started later and celebrated later, yes.”

She has the record now, and can also take satisfaction in the manner of its achieving.

“It’s nice that I can win from a breakaway for once,” she said.

‘I felt I wasn’t great’

Van der Poel’s win in the men’s race was a big tune up for many riders in advance of next weekend’s Tour of Flanders. Van der Poel looked impressive, as did Van Aert, with the latter sparking off a decisive move with a massive attack the second time up the Kemmelberg.

That eventually led to a seven-rider move, with Van der Poel reducing it to just two when he detonated the final ascent of the same climb.

The duo fended off Vermeersch afterwards and kept the peloton at bay for kilometer after kilometer.

A tougher course and a more fragmented peloton may well have seen them stay clear. However Van der Poel said after the finish that he still felt the effect of the E3 Saxo Classic in his legs.

“I felt that I wasn’t great. I was good, but I lacked freshness,” he admitted after the finish, speaking to Sporza.

“As I said beforehand, we would communicate well all day. Jasper Philipsen indicated that he was still fine. I rode along with Wout [van Aert], but always with the thought that hopefully Jasper would still come.”

“I also received instructions from the team car. I had to hold the pace at the front so that the riders at the back would also continue to ride. But I lacked freshness to really ride at full power.

“By my standards, I raced fairly defensively and always followed, but I had also indicated that.”

Fastest edition to date

The double whammy by himself and Philipsen bodes well for Paris-Roubaix. Van der Poel has won the race three times, while Philipsen was second in 2023 and 2024. Their double act may prove crucial when up against Tadej Pogačar and, indeed, Van Aert.

The latter is yet to win Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, but has made no secret of the fact that they are major goals for him this spring. He had a delayed start due to a fracture in early January but is growing stronger and stronger.

He more or less matched Van der Poel on Sunday and their combined efforts helped ensure an average speed of 46.9km/h, an absolute record for the event.

Both riders will line out in Flanders next week, as will Pogačar, and there is potential there for a utterly thrilling race.

Before then, though, Philipsen will savor his latest success and what is another key win for the Alpecin-Premier Tech squad.