Jasper Philipsen returns to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, scene of his third place last season, as part of the most powerful one-two punch in the peloton alongside Mathieu van der Poel as Alpecin-Premier Tech aim to win a cobbled Classic which has so far eluded them.
The Belgian’s palmarès includes a win at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and two at the Classic Brugge-De Panne (two), as well as a pair of Paris-Roubaix podiums. He has a real chance of victory on Saturday, too, even if Van der Poel is the overwhelming favourite for glory.
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws ahead of the race, Philipsen, who lost out in the sprint to Søren Wærenskjold and Wout van Aert last year, said that his team is equipped to compete for the win on Saturday in several scenarios.
“For me personally: not much [changes] – because in a way, I can also benefit from it,” he said.
“I was very close. I made an error of judgment in the…
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