CRITERIA. Second in Aalst, prize in Roeselare: Philipsen gets the win for Meeus and Kwiatkowski

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has won the 13th post-tour criterium in Roeselare. The 25-year-old “Vlam van Ham” won the sprint with a five-plus lead over Jordi Meeus. Pole Michal Kwiatkowski completed the podium. Tiesj Benoot was fourth ahead of Yves Lampaert.

Just before the start of the Post Tour Criterion, the first edition of the Gentlemen Classic, a race for former riders, was held. This 35km race was won by Andrea Tafi. The Italian made it after a sprint with three of his former teammates Johan Museeuw. Peter Van Petegem completed the podium. National coach Sven Vanthourenhout won the peloton’s sprint for fourth place.

Traditionally, the post-tour criterion in Rodenbachstad begins with a one-lap time trial. Jens Debusschere proved to be the fastest in the field. Timothy Dupont was second ahead of Jordi Warlop.

These last two also caused the first significant outlier at the beginning of the criterion. This in the company of Bert Demeersseman and Jani De Coster. Jasper De Buyst re-formed a little later. The final started without Tim Declercq. “El Tractor” suffered a technical defect and went off course with six laps to go. Jasper Philipsen also had to get off his bike for a while, but was quickly able to regain his place in the group thanks to the support of Jonas Rickaert.

Finally, a leading group formed with Michal Kwiatkowski, Jordi Meeus, Yves Lampaert, Tiesj Benoot and Jasper Philipsen. In the sprint that followed, Philipsen narrowly beat Meeus and Kwiatkowski. Debusschere finished sixth in his farewell race.

The criteria circus after the tour continues on Thursday in Herentals. Among others, Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen are at the start.

Jonas Vingegaard won the criterium in the Dutch Boxmeer. The winner of the Tour de France prevailed in the sprint against fellow runner Wout Poels. Mike Teunissen won the peloton’s sprint and finished third.

Vingegaard was honored as the winner of the tour on Sunday. The Danish leader of Jumbo-Visma traveled to Boxmeer on Monday. He made a stopover in Belgium and paid a maternity visit to teammate Wout van Aert.

He presented Van Aert in Herentals with a little yellow sweater for his newborn son Jerome. Van Aert did not start the tour on Thursday as his wife was about to give birth to her second child. A day later Jerome was born.

Poels won the fifteenth stage of the tour to the top of Mont Blanc. For the first time since 1997, Boxmeer welcomed a winner of the Tour de France. Back then, Jan Ullrich came to the Brabant Criterion the day after the Tour.

As with the tour, Alpecin-Deceuninck provided the spectacle. Deep in the final, Philipsen, Van der Poel, Rickaert, Ciccone and De Buyst parted ways. When the latter was unlucky, it was three against one. In the end, Van der Poel prevailed in front of Philipsen and Ciccone with a late elimination.

The start of the Gentlemen Classic, the race for former drivers, was also postponed due to the rain. For safety reasons, the organization decided to wait a little longer after the rain to ensure that the cobblestones are dry enough.

Fifteen minutes later than expected, around 5:15 p.m., the veterans started. Guests included Peter Van Petegem, José De Cauwer, Dirk De Wolf and Johan Museeuw, with the latter emerging as the winner.

“After arriving in Paris, we had a nice get-together with the team. This also included a boat trip on the Seine,” says Florian Vermeersch. “I just returned home this morning. After an exhausting Tour de France we had something to celebrate.”

“Things got off to a tricky start in the Basque Country, with some difficult stages right away. It was very intense right away. Some say this was the toughest tour in many years. For me it was the second edition, so I can hardly compare to what happened ten years ago. But I suffered a little. The first rest day followed after nine days,” said Vermeersch.

“I really enjoyed the tour. I look back quite satisfied. The atmosphere was very good and we stuck together. The last week has been great and it’s always good to end on a good note. That’s my only criterion after the tour. I want to rest a bit after Aalst. This tour made a big impact,” concluded Vermeersch.

Jasper Philipsen and the polka dot jersey Ciccone are present at the Natour criterium in Allast. Mathieu van der Poel, Jordi Meeus, Jonas Rickaert, Oliver Naesen, Jasper De Buyst, Florian Vermeersch, Stan De Wulf, Jenthe Biermans and Maxim Van Gils will also be present.

The program in Aalst:

5:00 p.m.: Gentleman Classic

7:00 p.m.: 86. Post Tour Criterion