Tour de France 2023: Jai Hindley stays third total as Jasper Philipsen sprints to fourth stage victory

Jasper Philipsen is in a category of his personal in relation to sprinting on the Tour de France.

He’s so robust that even when the teammate in command of setting him up is just not there, he nonetheless wins in the long run.

The Belgian sprinter posted his fourth stage win at this yr’s Tour de France in a single day, taking his profession tally to 6.

“It has been an unbelievable Tour thus far,” Philipsen mentioned after outclassing the sector.

“I am unable to realise how good it’s all going, so I am tremendous proud and actually pleased with my form. And likewise, to get by the ultimate with out issues can be an enormous problem, and we managed to do it 4 occasions, so I am tremendous glad.”

There have been no main modifications within the common classification: Jonas Vingegaard saved his 17-second lead over two-time champion Tadej Pogacar.

Jai Hindley remained in third place, 2 minutes and 40 seconds off the tempo.

Philipsen, who rides for Alpecin–Deceuninck, had been completely guided by his leadout man Mathieu van der Poel in his three earlier stage wins. Left on his personal this time, he completely timed his transfer and as soon as once more proved strongest within the frenetic final kilometre of the 180km stage 11 from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins in central France.

Philipsen has misplaced simply one of many 5 mass sprints that occurred at this yr’s Tour when Mads Pedersen received Stage 8.

With van der Poel not participating in final evening’s dash, Philipsen navigated his manner by site visitors at a median velocity of 65.6kph within the final kilometre to affix Mark Cavendish as the one lively rider with a minimum of 4 stage wins in a single Tour version. Cavendish crashed out of the race final week.

“I may also win with out (van der Poel), however in fact, he makes it less difficult,” Philipsen mentioned.

After Alexander Kristoff launched the dash, Dylan Groenewegen countered with Philipsen on his wheel. The Belgian’s energy was an excessive amount of to deal with for Groenewegen, who needed to be content material with a runner-up end. Phil Bauhaus accomplished the stage podium.

“I needed to discover my wheel a bit bit, and it is also discovering the area, and it is hectic and harmful for crashing, however I am glad I may discover a good wheel — Groenewegen — in the long run, he opened up early, and I may go over,” Philipsen mentioned.

Following a day of livid racing in scorching climate that took a toll on the peloton, Andrey Amador moved to the entrance instantly after the beginning of the stage however rapidly seen there weren’t plenty of riders occupied with leaping right into a break.