Jasper Philipsen had just been beaten again at the Tour de France when he let his emotions get the better of him, slapping the bonnet of a race organiser’s car. When he returned to his Alpecin-Deceuninck bus, moments after a photofinish confirmed Dylan Groenewegen had edged him out in Dijon, he let out a loud obscenity that was visible to those waiting outside. Something plastic was then heard bouncing across the floor.
There have been three sprint stages in the first six days of the 2024 Tour de France, and Philipsen is yet to win one. Up to five sprint stages remain – possibly six if you add in stage nine’s gravel day – but already the Belgian is failing to retain the title as the race’s sprint king that he has held in the past two editions.
