The biggest race of the year has started: the Tour de France. On Saturday, July 5, the peloton started from Lille, with the race set to conclude three weeks later with the (not so) traditional finish in the French capital,

The Visma-Lease a Bike team of Jonas Vingegaard were the protagonists, with several contenders for the overall classification — including Remco Evenepoel — distanced as the echelons formed. That main part of the peloton, which also contained Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas, ended up losing 49 seconds to the stage winner.

Philipsen will probably have to contend with Merlier and Milan this time, but he looks to be peaking for the time of the season which matters most. A second Tour de France stage win of 2025, and an 11th overall, could be coming for the 28-year-old.