Albert Philipsen is among the youngest riders on this 12 months’s Tour Down Below at simply 18 and makes his WorldTour debut with Lidl-Trek in Australia. But his junior world titles on the street and in mountain biking have earned him the standing of ‘tremendous expertise’.
He is among the riders to look at within the years forward, alongside Paul Seixas, Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon-AG2R) and Pablo Torres (UAE Group Emirates) and will even make his mark on the game on the Tour Down Below.
Philipsen’s love of street racing, mountain biking and Grand Tour potential means he’ll observe within the footsteps of Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogačar, Quinn Simmons, Tom Pidcock, and Mathieu van der Poel.
He accepts the ‘tremendous expertise’ tag, taking it as a badge of honour however is already his personal man.
“To be sincere, I do not actually like to check myself with different riders, I’d identical to to be Albert Phillipsen and see the place my profession takes me,” he informed Cyclingnews and different media from Tour Down Below.
“I’d hope I am a brilliant expertise nevertheless it’s positively exhausting to say in the mean time. You could be good in juniors, nevertheless it’s a distinct recreation on the WorldTour degree. I nonetheless suppose I’ve rather a lot to develop.
“It’s kind of loopy for me to have to maneuver from junior to WorldTour and to race towards all the fellows that I have been watching on TV, and looking out as much as for thus a few years.”
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Philipsen’s first style of elite racing got here in Saturday night’s criterium. It was a shakeout race, particularly for riders like Philipsen, who had travelled from the colds of the European winter. But he went on the assault, in a present of character.
“I simply needed to have time. It was a very nice race to start out with as a result of there was no strain. It was nearly having enjoyable and getting the physique going,” he defined.
“I am actually excited to get going. It has been an extended winter, or truly, not so lengthy, nevertheless it felt prefer it’s been an extended winter of preparation, and I simply really feel able to go and able to see what’s going to occur.”
Philipsen is a part of a blended Lidl-Trek staff on the Tour Down Below, alongside veteran Bauke Mollema, potential GC rider Juan Pedro Lopez and Andrea Bagioli, plus fellow WorldTour debutant Tim Torn Teutenberg.
He has apparently impressed throughout coaching rides on Willunga Hill and will use his energy and youth to tackle the larger title rivals. He seems quietly assured however modest.
“I wish to exit and present what I can do. But when it would not occur at this race, I believe it is okay,” he mentioned.
“It is exhausting for me to set targets for this primary race as a result of all the pieces is so new. So the most important aim is simply to achieve some expertise and get the season going. I do not actually have any ends in thoughts, as a result of I do not know that a lot about racing on the WorldTour. It is a large change from the juniors.”
Philipsen has turned skilled as an adolescent however Lild-Trek will assist him develop by way of a rigorously chosen race programme and spells racing with the Lidl-Trek growth staff.
“I nonetheless have not utterly discovered which form of rider I wish to be sooner or later. I wish to strive some various things this 12 months and see what I am good at and what I am unhealthy at, and see the place I really feel like I am at dwelling, or the place I really feel like I am doing the perfect,” Philipsen defined.
Philipsen is the 2023 and 2024 junior mountain bike cross-country world champion and intends to incorporate off-road racing in his 2025 season as he finds his ft.
“I will swap between using on the Lidl-Trek devo staff for some races after which the WorldTour for many races, plus some mountain biking,” he mentioned, nonetheless uncertain of his precise calendar.
“Once I’m racing with the WorldTour staff, it is going to be about gaining expertise after which once I’m racing with the devo staff, it is going to be about nonetheless having the sensation of journey finals and win races.”
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