Alpecin-Premier Tech 2026 Tour de France: Philipsen and Van der Poel spearhead ambitions

2025 Tour de France:

• 2025 Tour stage wins: 3
• 2025 Best GC finish: 22nd - Xandro Meurisse

2026 Objectives:

Alpecin-Premier Tech were one of the standout teams last summer, and with a squad led by Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen, they will be aiming to make their mark once more in 2026.

Philipsen has ambitions to add to his impressive stage-winning tally and also reclaiming the green jersey that he won in 2023.

In the Belgian team's announcement post, Alpecin led with the statement, "Expect the unexpected." - We have been warned. 

🇳🇱 Mathieu van der Poel (31): The Flying Dutchman was one of the stars of the opening week last year, supporting Philipsen to victory on the opening stage before taking yellow the following day with a stage win. A born entertainer, Van der Poel will no doubt be looking to make his mark once more. This season has seen Van der Poel win Omloop Nieuwsblad, E3 Saxo Classic and two stages of Tirreno-Adriatico. The Dutchman was 0,04 seconds away in the time trial at the Tour de Suisse from adding a fifth victory, but was denied by Tadej Pogačar. Regardless, Van der Poel's time trial performance was confirmation that the Dutchman is in fine form ahead of the Tour. 

🇨🇭 Silvan Dillier (35): Not many riders spend more time working on the front of the peloton than Silvan Dillier. The experienced Swiss rider will play an important role in controlling the breakaways on days when Jasper Philipsen is targeting a stage victory and points towards his hunt for the green jersey.

🇧🇪 Ramses Debruyne (23): The 23-year-old Belgian made his debut at the Vuelta a España last season. One of the more natural climbers in the predominantly sprint and Classics-focused squad, Debruyne finished 18th at Liège-Bastogne-Liège this season and also 13th overall at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

🇧🇪 Edward Planckaert (31): A valuable part of Philipsen's sprint leadout, Edward Planckaert always seems to be in perfect sync alongside Jonas Rickaert and Alpecin's premier sprinter. Planckaert last rode the Tour in 2022, where he supported Philipsen to two stage wins.

🇧🇪 Jasper Philipsen (28): With ten victories, the Belgian sprinter trails only Tadej Pogačar for most Tour stage wins in the current peloton. Philipsen tasted the ultimate high with a stage win and the yellow jersey to open last year's race in Lille. However, crashing out at an intermediate sprint on stage 3 means the Belgian will be filled with vengeance ahead of his return. Philipsen will also be full of confidence after an excellent June, which saw him win the Copenhagen Sprint, before taking a stage and the GC of the Baloise Belgium Tour.

🇧🇪 Emiel Verstrynge (24): The 24-year-old Belgian is yet another cyclocross star who has proven to be a top road rider also. Verstrynge will line up for his second consecutive Tour, and after finishing fourth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and fifth at the Amstel Gold Race, he could be one to watch from hilly breakaway stages. 

🇧🇪 Jonas Rickaert (32): The experienced 32-year-old Belgian lines up for his fifth Tour as a vital anchor in Jasper Philipsen’s sprint train. He is no stranger to dramatic breakaways; last year, he embarked on a tandem with Van der Poel on Stage 9 to Châteauroux, securing the combativity prize for his efforts.

🇳🇱 Tim Marsman (25): The Dutch rider is set to embark on his Grand Tour debut having made a big step up from continental level in 2025. Marsman was part of Alpecin's winning team at Gent-Wevelgem in March and has also ridden Paris-Nice and Milan-Sanremo this season.