‘I knew we had Jasper behind’ - Mathieu van der Poel explains why he didn’t fully commit in Gent-Wevelgem finale

The two rivals lit up the race on the final ascent of the Kemmelberg and built a significant advantage, but were ultimately reeled in inside the final kilometre of what became the fastest ever edition of the race, with Philipsen sprinting to victory.

Van der Poel revealed afterwards that his effort in the finale was measured rather than all out, with the team strategy always in mind.

“A bit of both,” Van der Poel  said to reporters, including Domestique when asked whether he was racing for the win or thinking about Philipsen. “I said quite quickly today on the radio that I didn’t feel super well recovered and I think I did quite a defensive race as well. Just following and doing what was necessary, but not too much.”

Despite launching the decisive move on the Kemmelberg, the Dutchman insisted it was his only real effort of the day.

“That was only also my only attack of the day, I think. Yeah, I knew that we had to go over it with a few riders that could pull hard towards the finish line to get there. Alone it was impossible, but yeah we wanted to keep the pressure on the chasing group.”

In the closing kilometres, with the peloton closing in, the front group appeared to hesitate at times, something Van der Poel acknowledged after the finish.

“Yeah, I think we were both also keeping something for the sprint as well. Yeah if we just go all out and not think about it, we could have made it. But yeah if I didn’t have Jasper in the back, it would have been a different story of course.”

That tactical awareness ultimately played into Alpecin’s hands, with Philipsen finishing it off in the bunch sprint.

“We had Jasper behind and he said he was still feeling good. So really nice for him that he takes the victory.”

While the win went to his teammate, Van der Poel also pointed to his own condition following his efforts earlier in the week. “I knew it was going to be difficult to be 100 percent today after the effort I did on Friday. But I think for next week… I will try to be at my best there.”

With the Tour of Flanders up next, the focus now shifts to the next major test of the spring, where he will not only face Wout van Aert but also Tadej Pogačar.

Looking ahead, he admitted it won’t be easy: “Of course it will be very difficult against Tadej, but I will try to be at my best there.”