“He tells me every day to go for green” – Mathieu van der Poel may change plans after advice from Jasper Philipsen

“He tells me every day to go for green” – Mathieu van der Poel may change plans after advice from Jasper Philipsen

Mathieu van der Poel has revealed that his teammate and close friend Jasper Philipsen has been encouraging him daily to chase the green jersey at the Tour de France. The Alpecin–Deceuninck rider, who currently wears yellow, hinted that he may consider altering his race strategy to target the points classification.

“He tells me every day to go for green,” van der Poel said with a smile. “At first I thought it wasn’t realistic, but the more we talk about it, the more I start to think — maybe it’s possible.”

Van der Poel has primarily focused on stage wins and team duties in recent Tours, but his consistent finishing and sprinting ability put him within reach of the green jersey. With Philipsen, last year’s points champion, backing him, there may be a shift in priorities for the Alpecin squad.

“Jasper knows what it takes to win green. If he believes I can do it, then that means something,” van der Poel added. “We’ll see how the next stages go. If I keep feeling good, we might go for it.”

The potential change adds intrigue to an already dynamic Tour campaign, as van der Poel juggles stage ambitions, team support roles, and now, possibly, a bid for green.