Taking a haul of 4 stage victories and the coveted inexperienced sprinter’s jersey on the 2023 Tour de France, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was concentrating on a second factors classification title in his younger profession subsequent season. As soon as the official route was revealed on Wednesday, the Belgian sprinter contemplated the parcours with few dash alternatives and “a really troublesome finish”.
Specifically, Philipsen appeared struck by a difficult third week of the 2024 Tour de France, and what it could take to finish the race. For the primary time within the historical past of the Tour, the normal highlight on the ultimate day switched from the Champs Élysées for sprints to a time trial for GC contenders on the Mediterranean coast in Good. It’s a plot with a twist.
“That’s putting. I believe the final likelihood for sprinters might be stage 16. Then the query is whether or not you proceed to Good, as a result of it will likely be a really troublesome finish,” Philipsen informed Wielerflits when addressing the media after the route presentation.
Philipsen was amongst an all-star solid of professional women and men riders in Paris Wednesday for the route presentation of the 2024 Tour de France, together with the reveal for the eight levels of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes. He was joined within the viewers by fellow sprinters Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) in addition to reigning Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).
The time spent within the Palais des Congrès for the presentation would be the solely event Philipsen will get near the Champs Élysées for 2024 Tour enterprise. As a result of subsequent 12 months’s Olympic Video games happen in and round Paris July 26-August 11, France’s Grand Tour will reroute and conclude in Good for the primary time.
“I believe we should consider the place we stand after stage 16. In the event you not have any prospects within the inexperienced place, the query is requested whether or not it is sensible to proceed,” he informed Wielerflits. “There are additionally different targets such because the Olympic street race in Paris or different issues later within the season.”
The Grand Départ for the Tour might be in Italy, additionally a primary. Throughout 3,492km of racing by way of 4 international locations (Italy, Marino, Monaco and France), the route options two time trials, 4 mountain-top finishes and 27 mountains categorised as second, first, or hors categorie. Even the time trial on the ultimate and decisive day is hilly.
Organisers revealed there are solely eight flat levels throughout the 21 days of racing. For riders like Philipsen and Cavendish and their teammates, they should combat exhausting on these days.
“There are some very troublesome, brief levels with loads of elevation acquire. Even early within the Tour. It was in fact anticipated that there could be many mountains within the course, however they’re powerful climbs,” he noticed.
“They already say there are eight flat levels, in order that must be the utmost variety of alternatives for sprinters. I’ve not but been in a position to view the levels intimately, it’s nonetheless too early for that.”
However after reviewing the route, Philipsen might not miss time away from the Champs Élysées. In 2021 he was left in tears after ending second to Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) on the line. He got here again in 2022 with a victory on Paris’ most well-known avenue, his second stage win of that Grand Tour. And in 2023 he was second once more, this time to Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe).
With 4 wins in France final 12 months, the 25-year-old gathered 19 complete wins all year long, greater than every other rider within the peloton. He has received six flat sprints in a row on the Tour. Within the final 17 Tour de France dash levels, he’s completed within the high three 16 instances.
“I want to be again, however the workforce makes the choice. I should make sure that I’m on the similar degree.”