Philipsen explains why he also took part in Nokere Koerse (third) between Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo

Philipsen rode in Tirreno-Adriatico after the Opening Weekend (finishing 66th in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and 92nd in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne), which marked his first stage race of the year. In Italy, he added stage number two to his palmares, finishing second and fourth in the other sprint opportunities. Like last year, it was Tirreno where the "Vlam of Ham" recorded his first victory of the season.

"Sprinting is where my real talent lies," said Philipsen after his Southern European sprint triumph. Nevertheless, this winter, he made the switch to a training program with more elevation gain. "For a good result in the classics, I have to work very hard. We have to see how far I can go in that. However, I remain a sprinter, so I can always win in that," added the gifted cobbled sprinter.

Logically, Milan-Sanremo, the first Monument of the cycling season in Italy, also came into focus. "Last year I came out of Tirreno well, so let's see how I fare in Sanremo now. I gained confidence there last year," said Philipsen, who of course has the absolute top favourite as a teammate in Mathieu van der Poel. "It really depends on how I handle the Poggio. When I see someone like Tadej Pogacar busy in Strade Bianche, the chance is very small for someone like me to emerge among the best. But it's a goal, one of the Monuments where I have a chance to win. You have to aim for those, but you also have to be realistic. If Mathieu feels as good as he did last year, he can finish it."

And so, in Nokere Koerse, three days after the conclusion of Tirreno, all eyes were on the 26-year-old Fleming. Sunday night, he flew from Bologna to Belgium. "Nokere Koerse has gained importance as a race in recent years. That's why the team and I wanted to be there at the start," he told Het Nieuwsblad earlier.

Then, when Philipsen and his teammates were well and truly presented on the market square in Deinze Wednesday morning, he stopped by the assembled cycling press, which included IDLProCycling.com. "This is definitely a good race to get ready for Saturday. Of course, there are many ways to prepare, but this one fits well. I love a race like Nokere. I'm looking forward to riding in Flanders again," he stressed, reiterating his love for the East Flemish cobblestones. "Moreover, it is a race that suits me, and I think I need it too. As a team, we want to win it. I stand here with the ambition to win, although the question is how well I have recovered from Sunday (the final stage in Tirreno, ed.)."

"After the finish, we fly straight to Italy. On Thursday, we will already be exploring there. So within 24 hours, I'll already be somewhere on the Poggio," he explained his schedule about an hour before the start of Nokere Koerse, before heading back to the team bus to get ready for the 188-kilometer 1.Pro race.

And that 188-kilometer 1.Pro race was thrilling. More than thrilling, with countless attacks. Tim Wellens and Stefan Küng, among others, tried several times. In vain, because it ended in another sprint on the Nokerberg. With particularly impressive pedal strokes, Tim Merlier rushed to his third consecutive victory. Philipsen finished third behind his compatriot and Fabio Jakobsen. "We were here to win today, but I'm satisfied with the feeling. That's very positive," Philipsen said in the flash interview.

"The sprint didn't go as planned, but that's just the way it is," the third-place finisher further explained. "We came at high speed, and I completely lost momentum in the sprint. Tim came from behind at high speed, so I had to pull up again. Then it was lost. I hate this sprint because I really can't maintain my speed on those cobblestones. Tim can handle this finish very well, although I enjoy racing here. This gives confidence for Milan-Sanremo." After the podium ceremony, Philipsen was able to speak to the cycling newsroom for a few moments before he had to rush off to the airport.