Jasper Philipsen, the Belgian sprinter, had a remarkable 2025 season, marked by both triumph and adversity. He began the year with a win at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and later donned the coveted yellow jersey at the Tour de France and the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana. However, the middle part of his season took a mental toll, as he revealed in an interview with Tutto Bici Web. The collarbone fracture that ended his Tour de France prematurely left a lasting impact on his motivation and overall well-being.
Philipsen described the mental struggle, saying, 'You spend months preparing for the Tour, you focus completely on it, and after three days it’s all over. You end up in bed for the rest of July. Mentally, that’s very hard.' The forced pause was particularly challenging for a rider who thrives on rhythm and routine.
But it was his friendship and companionship that ultimately helped him recover. Philipsen shared, 'For three weeks after the crash I couldn’t ride, then I started training again and went to Spain with Mathieu van der Poel, Gianni Vermeersch, and the others. We had a great time there, just enjoying ourselves with no stress or pressure. That helped me get through it and find my motivation again. If I’d been alone, it would’ve been much harder to recover.'
This reconnection with his teammates proved to be a turning point. By late summer, Philipsen had rediscovered his form and passion, taking three stage wins at the Vuelta to close a season he described as 'turbulent' yet still rewarding. Despite not having his most successful year in terms of the number of wins, he is proud of wearing both the yellow jersey at the Tour and the red jersey at the Vuelta in the same season, a special achievement.
Philipsen also reflected on the culture of autonomy at Alpecin–Deceuninck, which has helped him mature as an athlete. He explained, 'We’re quite free to decide how we train, which is nice because it gives you mental space and allows time with family. But it also means taking responsibility — it’s up to you to prepare properly and build the right condition for the Classics.'
Moreover, Philipsen emphasized the emotional aspect of cycling, stating, 'Cycling is a sport of emotions — all sport is. It’s passion and emotion that keep you going. Without that, you won’t reach your goals.' With renewed motivation and the same adrenaline-chasing energy that has defined his rise, Philipsen looks forward to 2026, ready to conquer new challenges.
