Danish top talent Philipsen (17) seems to be making choice after all: securing position in cross, aiming for 2028 Games as ambition

In recent years, the peloton has been following a trend where riders are committed earlier and earlier by major teams, showcasing their skills in the process. This season, we've witnessed examples such as Isaac Del Toro (UAE) and Paul Magnier (SQS) knocking on the door of success. Additionally, there's another rising star – junior world champion Albert Withen Philipsen (17), who will join Lidl-Trek starting in 2025. IDLProCycling.com had the opportunity to speak with him in Spain about his choices and aspirations at this young age.

Philipsen belongs to the elite category of talents alongside Van der Poel and Pidcock: excelling in road cycling (youngest junior world champion ever, Glasgow), adept in mountain biking (junior world champion, also in Scotland), and skilled in cyclocross (Danish junior champion). As a true multi-talent, it's no surprise that the entire global cycling elite pursued him. Among the suitors were Alpecin-Deceuninck and Visma | Lease a Bike, but he ultimately chose Lidl-Trek.

We previously interviewed Philipsen after his title win in Glasgow, where he expressed his intention to continue participating in various disciplines. "It's challenging to say which one I like best. Each discipline has its own appeal, making it hard to choose. My heroes are those who excel in multiple disciplines, such as Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock, and Wout van Aert. I admire them greatly and share the same passion for blending different aspects of cycling," remarked the Danish talent during his time in Scotland.

Philipsen seems to prioritize road and mountain biking over cyclocross

During the Benidorm cyclocross event (where he secured a 20th place finish), we revisited the topic of Albert Withen Philipsen's plans across different disciplines. "My future in cyclocross? That's still undecided, but I intend to continue participating primarily for enjoyment and to maintain a sense of competition during the winter. Next year, I might take a cyclo-cross hiatus as I transition to the WorldTour by 2025. I believe it would be beneficial to have a winter dedicated to road training without the pressure of race performance. In the subsequent years, I envision returning to cyclocross, primarily for the enjoyment.

On the road, he is in the midst of a journey of self-discovery. "What type of rider am I? Honestly, I'm still figuring that out. Currently, I'm inclined towards classics, but in the future, I wouldn't mind attempting a classification."

Mountain biking also holds a prominent place in Philipsen's upcoming endeavors. "I'll continue with that as well, albeit not as many races as in recent years. However, I have a keen interest in participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. That's a future ambition of mine," expressed the young Dane.