The run-up to the Tour de France 2026 is taking a slightly different direction for Jasper Philipsen. Contrary to what was previously communicated, the strong Belgian sprinter from Alpecin-Premier Tech will not participate in the Tour de Suisse, a race originally included in his schedule, but will instead compete in the Baloise Belgium Tour (June 17-21) on home roads.

This change will allow the twenty-eight-year-old from Mol to have, on stages with a profile more suited to him, the first feedback on his condition by repeatedly competing against some of the rivals he will face in France, as the start of the short stage race, won last year by Filippo Baroncini, will also feature, among the leading sprinters, Tim Merlier, Søren Wærenskjold and Mads Pedersen.

For the rest, Philipsen will follow the calendar agreed with the team, warming up before the Tour of Belgium at the Copenhagen Sprint on Sunday and then fine-tuning his form, once the home race is completed, at the National Road Championships scheduled for Sunday, June 28.

At that point, the winner of the 2024 Milan-Sanremo will have only a few days left before packing his bags and heading to Barcelona for the start of the Grande Boucle, a race where he will share the captain's duties with Mathieu van der Poel, who will soon be back in action in Switzerland in 66 days since his last competitive engagement.