Jasper Philipsen clinched victory at the 2025 Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne, marking the first win of the season for the Alpecin-Deceuninck team amid challenging conditions throughout the early racing season. The event, known for its demanding course, concluded with Philipsen speeding to victory after benefiting from an expertly executed leadout by teammate Kaden Groves.
The race started with expectations of excitement, as several teams aimed to create splits and avoid the classic bunch sprint scenario seen frequently this early in the cycling season. Over recent years, teams like Jumbo-Visma had taken similar approaches, but once again, the sprinters emerged as the favorites to take home the win. With this backdrop, the race featured numerous early attacks, including from riders like Jhonatan Narváez and others, as they sought to break the peloton apart on the hills.
"It was hard to find opportunities, and when you have riders constantly trying to break away, it makes for high tension leading to the finish," said Philipsen reflecting on the tough nature of the race. Various attackers formed small alliances, but as the kilometers dwindled, it became clear the classic sprint finish was on the horizon.
Ward Vanhoof, Ceriel Desal, Dries de Bondt, and others initially managed to establish a breakaway, holding their own for most of the race. Yet, with just 12 kilometers remaining, the sprinter teams, particularly Alpecin-Deceuninck, consolidated their efforts and reeled back the breakaway just before launching their attack. Team tactics played out perfectly, as Bissegger and Wellens were able to bridge the gap at strategic moments, leading to the necessary setup for the concluding sprint.
Philipsen’s win turned out to be more than just a personal best. According to team manager Philip Roodhooft, the entire organization felt the need to break their streak of near misses from previous races. "The first victory was always the goal. After Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where we couldn't quite finish as we wanted, it felt invigorated to dominate the way we did today,” Roodhooft stated post-race.
The execution during the final stages of the race was textbook. Philipsen was guided impeccably by Groves, who executed the perfect leadout allowing him to conserve energy until the last moment. Philipsen then surged forward, taking full advantage of the well-timed push right at the finish line, outpacing Olav Kooij and Hugo Hofstetter to claim the victory. This victory allowed Alpecin-Deceuninck to send clear messages about their ambitions for the season.
Following his win, Philipsen also took the opportunity to lighten the mood, playfully borrowing e-scooters from the race stewards to celebrate with his team. "It's less intensive on the legs after such demanding races, and it's just fun to let loose after the pressure of the opening weekend,” he chuckled during post-race interviews.
But there’s more at stake this early season; Philipsen aims to continue building on this success, hoping to adapt his sprinter strategies for tougher races to come. Roodhooft disclosed, "We’re focused on building Philipsen not just as pure sprinter but as someone who can tackle the broader challenges of the Flemish classics, which historically have posed challenges for him at times."
Looking forward, the team hopes to expand on this solid foundation laid out at Kuurne. They want Philipsen to find his place among the elite of the sport heading toward pivotal events this spring. The impending competitions, such as the E3 Saxo Classic and Ronde van Vlaanderen, will serve as ultimate proving grounds where he can demonstrate his progression.
"Winning races like Kuurne is significant, but the real test will be to sustain this momentum and continue to challenge much tougher courses," Roodhooft remarked, highlighting the larger goal of the entire team. Philipsen is certainly on the right path, and as the season progresses, both he and his teammates are ready to embrace the newfound momentum they built together.
Overall, Jasper Philipsen's victory at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne is more than just the first win of the year for Alpecin-Deceuninck; it is seen as a harbinger of what might be possible for both him individually and the team collectively as they eye bigger targets closer on the horizon. With newfound confidence and colleague support, Alpecin-Deceuninck is excitedly poised for continued success.