21/07/2023 07:30 | by Wilbert van der Velde
Jasper Philipsen was a much-discussed rider during and after the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France. The wearer of the green jersey cut Pascal Eenkhoorn off when he wanted to cross over to the leading group. The men of the AD podcast In Het Wiel thought it was worthy of a punishment from the jury.
“This is really irritation for the third week,” says ex-rider Michiel Elijzen. “Of course he has blinders on in the sprint, but he is not an annoying guy in the peloton. If you keep the leading group so short, you make it possible to bridge. He was very annoyed about that. In the third week, one thing only needs to happen and you explode. However, he must hold back; this made no sense. He may ride alongside him, but not cut off. Everyone is free to set course.’
However, Elijzen also shows some understanding. ‘I kind of get it. Thijs (Zonneveld, ed.) and I have also been in the situation where you drive with your team in the lead and they all attack and you think: cut it off, I’ll drive the first one that comes along onto the verge. You just shouldn’t do that in the biggest race, in your green jersey, if you’ve already won four stages and if there are still opportunities for teams that don’t have anything yet. Then you have to be so mature as to say: everyone can make a course. You don’t have to be so annoyed about that.’
Philipsen explained his action by saying that he did not want more frontrunners. Zonneveld thinks that is a worthless reason. “If that is the only thing, then I think it is a reason for a fine and deduction of points. It’s also just not according to the rules, you can’t prevent others from racing. It does now. He knowingly tries to cut Unicorn off so that he cannot attack. That’s just not allowed. I would find it logical if the jury demotes him.’ In the end, the jury did nothing with Philipsen’s action.
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Philipsen cuts off Eenkhoorn.
Elijzen: ‘I really think this is so incredibly childish’
In addition to Philipsen, Julian Alaphilippe’s riding was also discussed. The Frenchman from Soudal-Quick Step ravaged the sprinter teams in the final by emphatically stopping. All this to optimize the chances of his teammate Kasper Asgreen in the leading group. Zonneveld enjoyed it. “I really enjoyed Alaphilippe. He was so annoying in the chase. He pulled up next to them, went very slowly through a corner or he dropped another gap. It was really disturbing, which you think: you don’t do that anymore at this level. Anyway.’
Zonneveld’s words were not sarcastic: ‘I really enjoyed it.’ That was not the case for Michiel Elijzen. “I find this so irritating and also so unnecessary. But maybe not today, because otherwise they might not have made it,” the ex-rider corrects himself. “You have to think that if they had done this to Alaphilippe, he would have been the Søren Kragh Andersen of today. Then the world would have been too small. But because it is Alaphilippe and Soudal-Quick Step, it is suddenly allowed. I really find this so incredibly childish.’
“I think if you don’t let riders do their job or go under in corners, then you’re crossing the line,” continues Elijzen sternly. ‘It’s not as bad as what Philipsen did, but I almost put it in the same category. I think it’s very childish to do that.’
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