Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is the fastest sprinter in the Tour de France peloton at present, taking his third stage win into Bordeaux from seven days of racing. While he has the benefit of the best lead-out in the race - Mathieu van der Poel - and both have put in fantastic rides, questions must be asked about Philipsen's sprinting.
At the end of stage 3 he moved to his right, closing the door on Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and very nearly causing him to crash. Indeed, Van Aert - regarded as a very fair rider not prone to complain about others - said afterwards he was surprised Philipsen's victory was allowed to stand by the race jury.
Today, Philipsen was at it again, but this time he dived from one side of the road to the other, left to right in the overhead shot below, and in the process almost ran Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty).
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As the overhead shot shows, when Van der Poel ran out of legs and stalled, Philipsen was right on his wheel. Mark Cavendish (Astana) then shot through on Philipsen's right, with Girmay on his wheel. Philipsen jumped across the road, ditching Van der Poel and taking up Cavendish's back wheel.
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However, as he did that he moved a very significant distance, as the sprint was in full tilt; forcing Girmay off Cavendish's wheel and almost causing him to crash. Girmay - who is trying to become the first black African to win a stage on the Tour - gestured in frustration as he crossed line, clearly feeling he had been impeded in his sprint by Philipsen.
Both Astana and Intermarché-Circus-Wanty lodged complaints against Philipsen but his win was upheld by the jury.
