‘It will be difficult to repeat’ – Jasper Philipsen back racing ahead of Tour de France green jersey defence

Milan San-Remo winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is taking his first race start since Paris-Roubaix at the Baloise Belgium Tour starting Wednesday, as he prepares to defend the green jersey at the Tour de France. 

The Belgian established himself as the Tour’s best sprinter and top fast man in the peloton at last year’s race, netting four stage wins on the back of world-class lead-outs by Mathieu van der Poel and the rest of his Alpecin-Deceuninck train.