Philipsen was already upset about missing a chance in the final stage, but the letdown turned out even bigger: “Didn’t race a single meter of racing”

“Well, that’s the story of this Vuelta, isn’t it,” the 27-year-old Belgian began in his column for Het Belang van Limburg. “I just had a shower, but we barely broke a sweat today. Such a shame for us as riders and for the organization that we couldn’t just do our job,” Philipsen wrote Sunday after the canceled 21st stage.

The Alpecin–Deceuninck sprinter didn’t see the demonstrators himself. “There was a first blockade as we entered Madrid, and then they immediately had us put our feet on the ground. Just a few minutes later, it was clear and we got the decision through our earpieces: there would be no more racing.”

“I guess there was no way through to the finish, not even with the thousands of police officers that had been called in,” concluded a disappointed Philipsen. “I was ready for one last all-out effort.”

The Belgian was especially gutted because his father and some friends had traveled to Madrid for the final weekend. “It’s unfortunate news for them. They had decided last minute to make a weekend trip to Madrid to cheer me on. They didn’t see a single meter of racing. Stupid,” he said.

Still, the “Flame of Ham” looked back positively on the bigger picture. “Despite everything, I can call this a successful Vuelta. Three stage wins and an unexpected red jersey. It’s certainly not bad for a rider who didn’t actually feel great in this race.”

And for that, he was quick to thank his teammates, after their outstanding work in the lead-outs. “I want to explicitly thank them, because it wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Not only for the perfect lead-outs in the sprint stages, but also for their support in the climbs. That’s when you really notice how important a team is.”

Because this Vuelta was anything but easy. “It was an incredibly tough three weeks, but afterward I still feel like it went by pretty quickly. That means it was fun, and that as a team we got everything possible out of it,” said the winner of no fewer than three stages in this Tour of Spain.