An angry Jasper Philipsen throwing his bike at a support staff member. These are the images of the top sprinter that are doing the rounds on social media. The first week of the 2026 Tour de France It’s all over; the peloton has already completed three sprint finishes, and, of all people, Philipsen has not played a leading role in the bunch sprints so far. This comes as a surprise, given that the Belgian has been one of the world’s dominant sprinters in recent years and has won ten stages at the Tour de France alone.
However, a look at the results from recent months shows that Philipsen is no longer a traditional sprinter. And that could well be the reason why he is currently falling behind specialists such as Tim Merlier.
Jasper Philipsen – From sprinter to all-rounder
Road cycling has changed. Pure sprint stages are becoming increasingly rare on the WorldTour calendar, and even more so in the three-week stage races. Instead, demanding classics, hilly one-day races and stages featuring short, explosive climbs before the finish are now the norm. Even the Champs-Élysées has been taken away from the sprinters.
For the fast riders, this means adapting their profile. Anyone who is fast only on flat roads these days has far fewer chances of winning than they did ten or fifteen years ago and, if they want to win, must be one of the best in the world. That is why more and more riders who excel in the final sprint are adapting their approach.
Jasper Philipsen is the prime example of this trend. The Belgian has been working specifically on his climbing ability in recent years. He is now able to tackle short climbs far more effectively than many of his rivals and is therefore a genuine contender for victory in undulating to hilly classics. His Victory in the ‘From Middelkerke to Wevelgem’ race and numerous strong performances in races such as Milan–San Remo underscore this transformation.
The result is that Philipsen has become significantly more versatile. At the same time, he no longer seems to possess quite the same dominance in pure top-speed situations that once made him the most feared sprinter in the peloton.
Merlier and Milan have different priorities
Whilst Philipsen has increasingly become an all-rounder, riders such as Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan are taking a different approach. Both professionals focus much more on classic sprint finishes. Their season planning and training are designed to put as many watts as possible onto the road in the final 200 metres. Milan, in particular, also benefits from his immense physical strength, whilst Merlier is perhaps currently the most explosive sprinter in the peloton.
Philipsen, on the other hand, focuses his efforts on developing skills that also help him in gruelling races. He copes better with hills, can hold his own on difficult terrain and is considerably more versatile. But every development comes at a price. In modern cycling, it is virtually impossible to be both the best classics rider and the fastest man in a pure bunch sprint at the same time.
No stage wins on stages 11 and 12?
It therefore seems quite likely that Jasper Philipsen will not be among the main contenders for the stage win in the remaining classic sprint finishes on stages 11 and 12 either.
Merlier and other sprinters currently simply seem faster when the final stretch goes off without any major complications. Should the stages actually end in a classic bunch sprint, Philipsen is likely to find it difficult to beat such specialists. That does not, however, mean that his Tour is bound to be a complete disappointment.
The opportunities are still to come – just in a different form
On the contrary. The second and third weeks may well offer the Belgian precisely the sort of stages that suit his current riding style much better. Stage 17 to Voiron looks particularly interesting. The demanding finale is likely to pose major problems for pure sprinters, whilst Philipsen can capitalise on his ability to sprint quickly even after gruelling hours of racing. Finishes like this have now become his speciality. However, the finale of the Tour de France in Paris could prove even more exciting.
Montmartre instead of a sprint down the Champs-Élysées
For decades, the traditional final stage was considered a sure-fire win for pure sprinters. That has changed with the new route. Crossing the Montmartre climb three times gives the stage a distinct ‘classic’ feel. Although the climb is not long, it can noticeably thin out the peloton and makes the race much more selective.
This is precisely where Philipsen has an advantage over many of his rivals. Whilst pure sprinters are unlikely to stand a chance of winning, the Belgian might be able to keep up with the attacks from riders with a powerful punch. His development into an all-rounder could therefore pay off on the streets of Paris. It would come as no surprise if Jasper Philipsen’s big moment in this Tour were to come right there.
Conclusion
Jasper Philipsen’s supposed weakness in the sprint may not be a weakness at all. Rather, it is the result of his development into one of the most well-rounded fast riders in the peloton.
That is why the first week of the Tour de France might give a misleading impression. Stages 11 and 12 are likely to favour the specialists. But the tougher the final stages become, the better Jasper Philipsen’s chances will be. And it is precisely in Voiron or on the new, significantly more demanding route to Paris that the Belgian could show why he is far more than just a sprinter.
What do you think? Can Philipsen still live up to his name and secure a stage win? Have your say in the comments!
Leon Weidner
Editor
