Jasper Philipsen delivered a statement win at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, sealing his first victory of 2025 after coming up short at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad the day before. The Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter, third on Saturday, was expertly delivered to the line and showed his finishing power in a tough, attritional race.
After finishing 94th in Kuurne last year and struggling at the UAE Tour earlier in February, doubts lingered over his sprinting form. Those were erased on Sunday with a dominant burst to the line, capping off a strong Opening Weekend for his team.
“I tried to stay focused and visualise the win,” Philipsen said. “But of course, it’s difficult for our opponents to beat us when you have a team and support like this. Jonas and Kaden did a perfect leadout.”
With Milan-San Remo approaching, the Belgian’s victory sets him up well for the coming Classics. His team has also made strides, showing a strength in depth that was perhaps missing before. “We weren’t successful yet in Opening Weekend before, but now we’ve changed things in our preparation,” he said. “I could feel the team was there, and that gives confidence for the next races.”
Photo Credit: GettyVisma tries, but Alpecin prevails
Visma-Lease a Bike came determined to shake things up after a disappointing Omloop, where Wout van Aert could only manage 11th. On Sunday, they attacked relentlessly in the hill zone, with Van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson making repeated efforts to break the race apart. However, the sprinter teams kept a tight grip, and when Van Aert finally got clear with Roger Adria on the final climb, the Catalan rider refused to work with him, and the move was reeled in.
From there, it became a battle of leadout trains. Alpecin-Deceuninck took charge in the final kilometres, with Kaden Groves playing a crucial role. Olav Kooij was on Philipsen’s wheel but lacked the final acceleration to pass him, finishing as runner-up.
“I was in the right position but missed the final kick to pass Jasper,” Kooij admitted. “Sprinting after a Classic is different from a normal race. It’s about what you still have left in your legs, and today Jasper had a little more.”
Hugo Hofstetter secured his first podium in two years, sprinting to third. “I had really good legs today,” Hofstetter said. “The team rode great, and I knew the last corner was key. I had to be in the right position, and I managed to hold on.”
Jorgenson: ‘We just haven’t clicked yet’
For Visma-Lease a Bike, the weekend wasn’t a disaster, but it didn’t go to plan. The team had dominated Opening Weekend in recent years, winning Omloop three times in a row and taking Kuurne last year. This time, their best result was Kooij’s second place, and there was a sense the squad wasn’t at its usual level.
Matteo Jorgenson admitted that things hadn’t come together. “We just haven’t clicked yet,” he said. “We have a lot of new riders for the Classics, and we’ve had some bad luck with injuries.”
Losing key men like Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle had disrupted their usual dominance. “Last year, we started at the top and kind of petered out. Maybe this year we’ll build into the Classics instead.”
Jorgenson now turns his focus to Paris-Nice, where he’ll be defending champion alongside Jonas Vingegaard. “I feel really confident,” he said. “My form is building, and I hope to make Paris-Nice the highlight of my spring.”
Photo Credit: GettyWellens animates the race but comes up short
Tim Wellens once again tried to upset the sprinters with a late attack, just as he did in 2024 when he finished second behind Van Aert. This time, however, his move alongside Stefan Bissegger was brought back in the final kilometres.
“We knew we couldn’t wait for the sprint,” Wellens said. “We had a good move, but there were just too many riders behind.”
Despite finishing 71st, he remained upbeat. “The sensations are good, the numbers are good, and I know I’m in shape for the next races,” he said.
At the finish, there was no stopping Philipsen, who now looks ahead to his next big goals. His victory at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne didn’t just secure a major win for himself but also reinforced Alpecin-Deceuninck’s growing strength in the Classics.
“We just need to keep this momentum going,” Philipsen said. “It’s still a long way to go in the Classics, but I feel like we’re on track.”
2025 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
