Philipsen Eyes Sanremo Despite Pogačar and Van der Poel Dominance

Jasper Philipsen, fresh off a victory at Nokere Koerse on Wednesday, acknowledges his chances of winning a second Milan-San Remo title on Saturday are “remarkably small,” but remains committed to competing for every possible opportunity.

Nokere Koerse as Sanremo Preparation

Philipsen’s win at Nokere Koerse served as a crucial tune-up ahead of the prestigious Milan-San Remo race. He defeated breakaway rider Alec Segaert in an uphill sprint to claim the victory according to IDLProCycling. The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider previously won Milan-San Remo in 2024.

Pogačar and Van der Poel’s Impact on the Race

Philipsen believes the dominance of Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel has fundamentally altered the dynamics of Milan-San Remo. “Due to Tadej Pogačar’s dominance, Milan-San Remo has become a slightly different race, I think,” he stated. “In the past, riders never really stood out quite so much like he and Mathieu van der Poel do right now. The fact that they can really craft the difference and attack right from the Cipressa changes the dynamics of that race a bit.”

Sprinters Still Have a Chance

Despite the strength of Pogačar and Van der Poel, Philipsen maintains that sprinters still have a path to victory. He refuted suggestions that sprinters are entirely out of contention, noting that even in a challenging race, “There is always a chance. Nine out of 10 times, it is indeed a lost day, if you look at the result. But then you do have the kilometres and that long race in your legs. I similarly believe that you should go there for every minuscule chance there is. Milan-San Remo is too important a race to just pass up.”

Potential Dark Horses

Philipsen identified Wout van Aert as a potential challenger to Pogačar and Van der Poel, impressed by his performance at Tirreno-Adriatico. “I saw in Tirreno-Adriatico that Wout van Aert made a excellent impression along the way. I think he is going to be close.” He also acknowledged the possibility of a strong performance from Filippo Ganna, referencing Ganna’s near-miss last year.

Team Strategy and Philipsen’s Role

Alpecin-Premier Tech has a strong team, having won Milan-San Remo in 2023 and 2025 with Mathieu van der Poel. Philipsen anticipates a more defensive role, allowing Van der Poel to seize the lead on the climbs. “I think they need to let their legs do the talking; Mathieu stands a very good chance of winning again on Saturday. And then I’ll endeavor to ride my race from the second line. That means after the climbs, seeing which group I’m in and what position we will ultimately be fighting for.”

Philipsen acknowledged feeling slightly fatigued after Tirreno-Adriatico but expects to be in optimal condition for Saturday’s race. He emphasized the importance of the next four weeks, stating, “From now on, everything is important in the coming four weeks. This is the period I have worked so hard for.”