After weeks of intense racing, Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen finally snagged his first victory in this year's Tour de France! 🚴‍♂️✨ On Tuesday, he powered through to triumph in Stage 10 with a flawless sprint finish, reminding everyone why he's a force to be reckoned with.
Philipsen, who grabbed four stage wins last year, had been itching for this moment. \"We came to the Tour de France with a strong lead-out train, and it paid off today,\" he shared with a grin. \"We just had to keep believing!\" 🙌
The day started off calm, with the peloton cruising through a few rain showers. But the excitement ramped up in the final 5 kilometers as the sprinters' teams battled for position. Team Alpecin-Deceuninck nailed it! With 300 meters left, teammate and world champion Mathieu van der Poel hammered down the pace, setting up Philipsen for a legendary finish. \"Having the world champion as your lead-out guy is fantastic,\" Philipsen beamed. \"Mathieu is a really strong guy. When he shows his power, not many riders can emulate him.\"
Hot on his heels was Eritrea's rising star Biniam Girmay 🚀, who claimed second place, followed by Germany's Pascal Ackermann in third. Girmay, who already boasts two stage wins this Tour, is giving the competition a serious run for their money!
Meanwhile, Slovenian sensation Tadej Pogacar kept his grip on the coveted yellow jersey 💛, as the riders prepare for a tough mountain stage in the Massif Central tomorrow. It's gonna be epic! 🌄
Philipsen's win brings him closer in the race for the green jersey, but Girmay still reigns supreme in the points classification with 267 points to Philipsen's 195. The battle is heating up! 🔥
Reference(s):
Philipsen finally bags Tour stage win as Pogacar stays in control
cgtn.com
