Three victories and a shot at the green jersey? With his hat-trick on the 2024 Tour de France stages, Jasper Philipsen – superbly led by Robbe Ghys then Mathieu van der Poel in the grueling Nîmes finale – tied Biniam Girmay’s stage win count. But more importantly, he closed the gap on the Eritrean, who crashed in the final kilometer, in the points classification.
Currently, 32 points separate the 2023 green jersey from its potential successor, down from more than double that on Tuesday morning (86). If Girmay, seriously injured on the right side, can restart this Wednesday, the battle for the best sprinter’s jersey will be decided over the last five stages, which are sometimes hilly, sometimes mountainous, of this Tour de France. This is one of the indirect consequences of the remarkable finish in Nice, rather than on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen wins his 3rd stage victory, Biniam Girmay falls in the finale
Jasper, congratulations. After a complicated start to the Tour de France, with a fall and a relegation, you have put the dots on the i’s.
“I’m very happy regarding it. We’ve put things back in order, let’s say. It’s really nice to finish the Tour de France with three victories. (Editor’s note: compared to four in 2023) and we should be proud of it. Our start to the race was marked by bad luck and perhaps by the fact that I wasn’t in my best shape. We analyzed all that a little with the team, I was perhaps missing a few percent to be at my best. That’s how it is. We must take advantage of this result and the collective performance.”
With the fall of Biniam Girmay, you are getting closer to the green jersey ranking.
“Yes, anything is possible… but it will be very difficult. I hope he is OK following falling because he really doesn’t deserve to lose his green jersey like that.”
What percentage chance do you give yourself of overtaking Girmay?”
“I would say 5%.”
No more ?
“32 points may seem like a small gap but in reality, it’s quite big since there are no more sprint stages left. It’s almost impossible but it’s good to have another goal in mind than simply trying to get to Nice while staying in the peloton. It’s a way of finding motivation by continuing to put the pressure on.”
guillementGirmay climbs better than me in the mountains.
What difference does it make to play for the green jersey in the mountains?
“It’s very different because you can’t completely aim for your tank like in a sprint to the finish. Once the sprint is done, you still have to climb. And Girmay climbs very well, whereas, for my part, I don’t have the best legs of my career in the mountains. I’ve already suffered a lot since the start of the Tour and now it’s a little better. But I see that I have to go far in the effort to manage to get back on time, with the gruppetto. Up front, it’s really fast and I had to reach some of my best values on the climbs to survive in the last few days… while I was in the wheels. For us sprinters, it’s not great.”
Your victory this Tuesday is the second following a day of rest. Does this say something regarding your good recovery?
“The freshness can play a role on this kind of very flat stage, but I think it’s a coincidence. The victories we’ve acquired come mainly from good team work. We managed to make a great lead-out.”
Philipsen Closes in on Green Jersey – Can He Overtake Girmay?
Jasper Philipsen’s impressive hat-trick on the roads of the 2024 Tour de France has propelled him closer to the green jersey, with the sprint specialist now within striking distance of Biniam Girmay.
Following his third stage victory in Nîmes, Philipsen, perfectly guided by Robbe Ghys and Mathieu van der Poel, has closed the gap with Girmay in the points classification, following the Eritrean sprinter was involved in a crash in the last kilometer.
A Mountainous Challenge for the Green Jersey
Girmay now leads Philipsen by only 32 points, down from a significant 86 point cushion just a few days ago. With the Tour headed into its mountainous final stages, the remaining five stages offer a unique challenge for the green jersey contenders.
The final stages feature a mix of hills and mountains, which may hinder the traditional sprint competition. The change in terrain shifts the focus towards a different type of rider – one with climbing prowess. Philipsen, who admits his climbing skills are not his strongest attribute, will face a difficult task overcoming the deficit.
Philipsen’s Thoughts on the Green Jersey Hunt
“Yes, everything is possible… but it will be very difficult. I hope he is OK following falling because he really doesn’t deserve to lose his green jersey like that.”
Philipsen acknowledged the opportunity presented by Girmay’s crash but is realistic regarding the challenge ahead. He recognized the points gap, stating, “32 points may seem like a small gap but in reality, it’s quite big since there are no more sprint stages left. It’s almost impossible… but it’s good to have another goal in mind than simply trying to get to Nice while staying in the peloton. It’s a way of finding motivation by continuing to put the pressure on.”
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider isn’t giving up hope, but understands the importance of Girmay’s climbing advantage, highlighting, “In the mountains, Girmay climbs better than me.”
Philipsen on the Green Jersey Challenge
“It’s very different because you can’t completely aim for your tank like in a sprint to the finish. Once the sprint is done, you still have to climb. And Girmay climbs very well, whereas, for my part, I don’t have the best legs of my career in the mountains. I’ve already suffered a lot since the start of the Tour and now it’s a little better. But I see that I have to go far in the effort to manage to get back on time, with the gruppetto. Up front, it’s really fast and I had to reach some of my best values on the climbs to survive in the last few days… while I was in the wheels. For us sprinters, it’s not great.”
Teamwork and Recovery
Philipsen emphasized the role of his team in his success, saying, “The freshness can play a role on this kind of very flat stage, but I think it’s a coincidence. The victories we’ve acquired come mainly from good teamwork. We managed to make a great lead-out.”
The Belgian sprinter’s recent form suggests he’s managing the demands of the Tour well, but whether he can close the gap in the mountainous climax and snatch the green jersey remains to be seen.