Alpecin-Deceuninck locks in Philipsen! Van der Poel's dream team remains intact

It was no secret that Alpecin-Deceuninck was eager to extend Philipsen's contract. Even the team’s leader, Mathieu van der Poel, commented on it after his teammate's victory in Milan-Sanremo. "It's not for me to judge, but I think he's in the right place here. However, it's not just about that. I hope he stays, that's all I can say," the world champion said at the time.

Philipsen consistently stated that he wanted to re-sign, but his management also explored interest from other teams. The deadline for a decision was set after Paris-Roubaix, but clarity did not come at that time. Before the start of the Baloise Belgium Tour, Philipsen provided some clarity: "The choice has been made, and I hope to announce the news soon."

The choice has now resulted in a thick, juicy new contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck. Signing for four additional seasons, Philipsen's services have now been secured until the end of 2028. This matches the duration of Van der Poel’s contract, keeping his partner in crime by his side.

Over the past two seasons, Van der Poel and Philipsen have proven to be perfect teammates. Van der Poel rode for his sprinter in Milan-Sanremo and provided fantastic lead-outs that resulted in several sprint victories for Philipsen in the Tour de France. Conversely, Philipsen played his role as the second man in the last two editions of Paris-Roubaix.