Tour de France 2025: Jasper Philipsen, a thoroughbred

Two years ago, the Belgian Dries De Bondt described to Libé the particular character of his compatriot and former teammate Jasper Philipsen. That of a man who sometimes seems to be evolving on another level. "In the middle of a conversation, he suddenly starts throwing out completely different subjects. The stock market, cars, skiing... When you want to say something to him, you have to do it quickly! In Flemish, we have an expression: he's a scattered professor." At the press conference this Saturday, July 5 in Lille, we heard everything but this "scattered professor." Rather, very ordered words, delivered with composure. "We knew that a ledge [a break linked to the wind, editor's note] could happen but not where exactly . We had to stay in front all day. That's what the guys did, they kept us in a very good position. My sprint train was still there at the end."

The Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter saw his rivals swept away by the northern breeze as he approached the final straight of the first stage of the Tour de France. For the first time in five years, the yellow jersey was promised to a rider of the fastest breed. Here he is on the back of Philipsen, the last stage of a rocket including riders of the caliber