Jasper Philipsen could not explain another missed sprint chance after finishing fifth on stage seven of the Tour de France in Bordeaux.
The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider has built his Tour reputation on ruthless finishing speed. He is a 10-time stage winner and a former green jersey wearer. Yet this race has produced two bunch sprint chances for him, and both have ended in fifth place.
Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step won Friday’s seventh stage on the Garonne riverfront. Philipsen then rode past Merlier’s team bus while heading back to his own. Fans had already gathered there to celebrate the Belgian winner.
That scene has often belonged to Philipsen in recent years. He has won at least one stage in each of his last four Tour appearances. In 2023, he claimed four stage victories.
Jasper Philipsen looks for missing speed
Philipsen offered no simple answer after the Bordeaux sprint. He said the team needed to examine what happened, but stressed he had emptied himself.
“I did everything I could,” Philipsen said after the stage. He added that he rode as fast as possible, but “it was not fast enough.”
The finish in Bordeaux carried extra weight for Philipsen. Three years ago, he won on the same stretch of road outside Place de la Bourse. This time, he launched first but could not hold off the faster finishers behind.
Philipsen praised the work of his teammates and refused to question the lead-out. He called it a strong team effort and said everyone had performed their role. His frustration focused instead on his own sprint and his legs.
He described the feeling as not matching his normal level. After stage five in Pau, which Olav Kooij of Decathlon CMA CGM won, Philipsen had already raised similar concerns. He said then that he had reached his limit quickly, which was unusual for him in a bunch sprint.
Even so, Philipsen did not sound beaten. He said the team would take the race day by day and hoped the feeling would return in the coming stages.
Demanding opening week offers little room for rhythm
The opening week has given sprinters fewer straightforward chances than usual. Philipsen won the bunch sprint on stage one in Lille last year and took the first yellow jersey. This time, he had to wait until stage five for his first flat finish.
Before that, the race had already included an arduous team time trial, a hilltop finish, two mountain stages, and a day near 40C. Those demands have made the first week unusually attritional.
Philipsen did not blame the heat. He noted that every rider faced the same conditions. He said the race had taxed the body and left muscles sore, but added that the team was trying to manage it as well as possible.
Alpecin-Premier Tech sports director Christoph Roodhooft also avoided excuses. He said the Bordeaux lead-out had worked as planned, but Philipsen could not reach his usual speed once he opened the sprint.
Roodhooft made clear that the team did not blame its sprinter. He described the result as part of sport, and said Philipsen remains human like every other rider.
The next opportunity should arrive quickly. Saturday’s eighth stage to Bergerac offers another flat finish and another chance for Philipsen to reset his Tour.
History also argues for patience. In 2024, Philipsen had to wait until stage 10 for his first victory. He then added two more stage wins before the race ended.