Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen won his third stage of the Tour de France, denying Mark Cavendish a record-breaking victory. Philipsen has now won five consecutive bunch sprints since last year. In the final sprint after a 170km race from Mont de Marsan, Philipsen was the fastest once again. Cavendish made a strong effort, launching his sprint early, but Philipsen overpowered him to claim the win. Cavendish, who is chasing a record-breaking 35th individual stage win, had to settle for second place. He currently shares the record with Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx. Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay finished third in the stage.
Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark retained the yellow jersey as the overall leader, with Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia in second place and Jai Hindley of Australia in third place. Philipsen expressed his pride in his team’s performance and credited Mathieu Van Der Poel for his perfect lead-out. He acknowledged that without his team’s support, winning three stages would have been impossible. Philipsen also mentioned that he never had to make a big effort before his sprint, thanks to the positioning of his teammates. He expressed his disbelief at his success and stated that the team will continue to aim for more stage wins.
Despite his victories, Philipsen remains cautious of the threat posed by Cavendish. He acknowledged Cavendish’s strength and expressed his desire to see him win a stage. Cavendish, on the other hand, mentioned that his rival had changed lines during the sprint but refrained from discussing it further. He expressed his satisfaction with his positioning in the race and his early kick in the sprint. Cavendish mentioned that he had done the same in 2010 but was unable to secure the win. He vowed to keep trying in the upcoming stages.
The next stage, the eighth stage, is a hilly ride from Libourne to Limoges. It is expected to favor Philipsen’s teammate, Mathieu van der Poel, who is a classics specialist. However, van der Poel has pledged his allegiance to supporting Philipsen in his quest for the green jersey. Van der Poel expressed his hope of having a chance to win a stage in the coming weeks but stated that the team’s priority is to support Philipsen in the sprint. In the points classification, Philipsen currently leads Bryan Coquard of France by 88 points, with Cavendish trailing by an additional 28 points.
Overall, Philipsen’s victory denied Cavendish a record-breaking win and showcased the strength of his team’s support. Cavendish remains determined to secure a stage win, while Philipsen remains wary of his rival’s capabilities. The upcoming stages will continue to test the cyclists’ skills and determination.
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