Mathieu Van der Poel explains why he did not go full gas in breakaway alongside Wout van Aert as Jasper Philipsen takes In Flanders Fields victory
By Tom Masters
Published 29/03/2026 at 18:14 GMT+1
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Mathieu van der Poel explained that he did what was necessary as he knew "we had Jasper [Philipsen] in the back". Philipsen won an incredible sprint to take a record-breaking In Flanders Fields race after Alpecin-Premier Tech team-mate Van der Poel had gone into a stunning breakaway with Wout van Aert. The duo looked set to battle for the win with such a big lead but were caught late in the race.
Philipsen takes fastest-ever In Flanders Field win, Van der Poel celebrates
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mathieu van der Poel suggested he did not go at full gas during a breakaway at In Flanders Fields - From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, as his Alpecin-Premier Tech team-mate Jasper Philipsen won the fastest edition of the race.
Van der Poel and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), the 2021 winner of the race, peeled off together and the race appeared to be down to two contenders with riders of their calibre having such a big lead.
But Van der Poel was not at 100%, having emptied the tank on Friday when winning the E3 Saxo Classic, and as the race approached the final 20 kilometres, the peloton gradually began to reel them in.
Two briefly became three when Alec Segaert (Bahrain Victorious) joined the leaders but the Belgian had, in catching up with Van der Poel and Van Aert, effectively used up all of his energy.
He tried to go alone as the trio passed the 1km banner but as the peloton caught up with Van der Poel and Van Aert, they quickly reached Segaert too.
As the line grew closer, it was Philipsen and Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon-CMA CGM) who pushed each other to the line and in the end it was the Belgian who took it, the first time a home rider had won the race since Van Aert five years ago.
It was also the first time since 2019 that the race had been decided by a bunch sprint, with the fans who had turned out in their droves being treated to a real spectacle, and a record-breaking one too, as at 46.9 km/h, it was the fastest edition of the race.
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'One to remember' - Philipsen hails landmark 60th pro win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Much was made after the race of Van der Poel and Van Aert's battle for supremacy, and ultimately, although neither finished in strong positions, it was Van der Poel who had the last laugh as Philipsen won.
The 31-year-old said: "I said quite quickly today on the radio, I didn't feel well recovered, so I think I did a defensive race, just following and doing what was necessary, not too much.
"I did my pulls in the front. I knew we had Jasper in the back; he had said he was still feeling good, so it was really nice for him to take the victory."
Van der Poel said both he and Van Aert had more in the tank during their breakaway ride.
"We were both also keeping something for the sprint as well," Van der Poel said. "If we had gone all out, not thinking about it, we could have made it to the finish - and without Jasper in the back, it would have been a different story.
"We talked about it today and we made the right choice."
Philipsen’s palmares is growing and it was his 60th triumph. This one was one he always wanted and was delighted that everything came together for him.
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He said: ”My 60th, but one to remember I think. It is one I have been chasing already for a long time.
”It is a classic that I wanted to win for many years but never really had the legs in the end and everything came together today and I was able to take the victory.
”With Mathieu at the front, of course, it was the ideal situation for the team, he said quite some kilometres before the final that he did not have the best legs because of Friday, but if you can still ride away with two in the end then his legs weren’t too bad.
”But I knew from the past that the finish was always quite long and difficult, you need fresh legs in the end and that is what I needed today to get on the sprint and take the win.
”It is also not easy, we had to work together and use our strengths together. I think we had a good plan, it was really nice to make it happen and to finish it off together with team-mates.
”I am really, really happy, I have wanted to win this for a long time, I was really looking forward to it.
”I thought I was in a position that I could win, we had Mathieu up front and it was good that he was there.”
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'Cycling fans, rejoice!' - Van der Poel launches attack but can't shake Van Aert
Video credit: TNT Sports
Van der Poel finished some way back in the end, but he could not hold back his delight at seeing Philipsen steal it at the line, the first time the team had won the race.
TNT Sports’ Robbie McEwen said: ”Look at the elation of Mathieu van der Poel, the whole day, from his interview this morning, saying we have got Jasper, so I think we got it covered whatever I feel like and whatever I do - In the end it was Jasper."
Lund could not hide his disappointment at finishing second and played down the speed of the race, insisting that the tempo is common in modern-day cycling.
He said: ”A little bit disappointed with my sprint, I felt really good and that is probably a cliche, but my team was amazing.
”You think it is probably not even possible to catch those two guys in front, but I think this team showed just how strong we are.
”Of course, it is Mathieu and Wout out there, it is not just anyone, so to catch them up is really impressive.
”People will probably say that [about the pace being record-breaking] but that is any race now.
”I don’t feel the difference between now and any other race I have done this season, you always leave with a little bit of a crazy feeling.”
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Van Aert 'puts his foot on the gas' as Van der Poel follows
Video credit: TNT Sports
France’s Christophe Laporte (Visma) finished third, in his first attempt at the race since winning it in 2023.
He was frustrated he was not able to win for a second time but gave credit to Philipsen for his win.
Laporte said: ”It was not the result that we came for, it is a nice result but we wanted to win.
”Wout was very strong with Mathieu, I wanted him to play for the victory.
”But he came back after and I did my best in the sprint and, of course, Philipsen was the best.
”It is a really nervous race, it always is, a really difficult race but it was pretty good.
”Of course, everybody worked to try and get everybody back [in the race] and that is what stopped them from getting to the finish.”
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