Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has apologised to Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) after deviating in his dash on stage 6 of the Tour de France, forcing his Belgian compatriot to brake within the remaining dash to Dijon to keep away from going into the limitations.
The defending inexperienced jersey winner on the Tour was relegated for his motion within the flat end after crossing the road in second behind Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla). His preliminary evaluation was anger at himself for dropping the stage, earlier than discovering out he had been relegated to 107th, fined 500CHF and misplaced extra inexperienced jersey factors.
Despite workforce supervisor Christoph Roodhooft saying, “I did not suppose it was a manoeuvre that 100% justifies the declassification” after the stage, Philipsen this morning was at peace with the choice of the jury and responded to the incident on his Instagram.
“Of course, I’m disillusioned to be relegated yesterday after a really hectic dash I need to apologise to Wout van Aert. I used to be on no account attempting to field him in or pressure him into the limitations on goal,” mentioned Philipsen.
“Like each sprinter, I’m tremendous aggressive and need to win each dash stage however under no circumstances prices to a different rider’s security.”
Van Aert responded angrily to Sporza after the stage, with the incident reminding him of an analogous motion taken by Philipsen on the opening dash stage of the 2023 race. On that event in Bayonne, Philipsen wasn’t relegated, main Van Aert to plead for a change in decision-making earlier than the relegation was confirmed yesterday.
“I used to be as soon as once more boxed in by Jasper Philipsen within the dash, everybody noticed that. That is a foul behavior of his,” mentioned Van Aert.
“I’m particularly glad that I stayed upright. But if there isn’t any sanction, that will make me indignant. They should not throw him out of the Tour, however he ought to be declassified.
“If they do not punish that severely, everybody thinks that something goes. It’s an more and more large downside.”
Philipsen, who alongside his Alpecin-Deceuninck lead-out prepare, has constructed up a popularity as an aggressive sprinter, primarily due to Netflix’s Tour de France: Unchained, was fast to state that whereas contact will occur in Tour de France sprints, it could by no means be a acutely aware transfer that endangered one other sprinter.
“What we do as sprinters is already the “highest stakes poker” you may play as a bicycle owner however I’d by no means consciously journey in such a method that it endangered one other rider,” he mentioned.
“I can’t say there gained’t be some contact as a result of that’s all a part of sprinting on the highest stage. And there is no such thing as a increased stage than on the Tour de France.”
Philipsen is zero from three in Tour de France sprints in 2024, failing to reside as much as his 4 victories and inexperienced jersey from the 2023 race. With this drama with Van Aert hopefully closed, his subsequent probability to dash will come on the uphill drag to the road in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises on stage 8.
“Once once more, a giant thanks to the workforce, not just for supporting me throughout the race but in addition afterwards. Tomorrow we go once more,” mentioned Philipsen. “I’ll maintain attempting to win as quick and pretty as I can.”
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