WORLDS’23 Junior Males RR: Denmark’s Philipsen Dominates!

Worlds Race Report: Albert Withen Philipsen is the brand new junior males’s highway World champion. The 16 year-old Dane was with a robust main group of seven, rode away from them on the penultimate lap after which soloed to victory. He’s the youngest ever junior World champion. Germany’s Paul Fietzke took the silver medal. The bronze went to Felix Ørn-Kristoff, Alexander Kristoff’s half-brother.

Albert Withen Philipsen for Denmark

The highway races for the juniors had been on this system on Saturday. After the French rider, Julie Bego had taken the rainbow jersey for the junior (U19) ladies earlier within the day, it was the flip of the boys within the afternoon. They needed to cowl 9 laps of 14.4 kilometre circuit for a complete of 130 kilometres.

Junior males’s race profile

The Netherlands riders instantly confirmed themselves within the first kilometres. Tijssen rode away on his personal for a 20 second lead. On the second lap, he was nonetheless soloing till his chain got here off uphill. He needed to drop again the peloton.

The peloton was stressed after that. There have been crashes, together with Van der Werff and the Belgian favorite Jarno Widar who needed to abandon. On the entrance there have been a number of failed makes an attempt to get away. The Norwegian Felix Ørn-Kristoff, the half-brother of Alexander Kristoff, was the one one who managed to take a spot. He was quickly joined by the Dane Albert Withen Philipsen, the German Paul Fietzke and one other Norwegian, Jørgen Nordhagen.

Nordhagen, who will likely be driving with Jumbo-Visma’s WorldTeam from 2025, was seen as one of many prime favourites, however had determined to assault early. There was nonetheless 90 kilometres to go. The 4 had been joined by Juan David Sierra (Italy), Theodor Storm (Denmark) and Matthew Brennan (Nice Britain). The seven had been greater than 1 minute forward of the peloton, which was scaling down increasingly more.

The peloton was nonetheless chasing, the Netherlands nonetheless had Hayma, Tijssen, Remijn and Lugthart 40 kilometres from the end. France and Slovenia additionally had fairly a number of males and helped the chase. After these nations injected extra pace, the distinction dropped to lower than 30 seconds, which led to skirmishes within the main group. Kasper Borremans tried to leap away, however after an extended chase, the Finn was again with the pursuers. The Pole, Patryk Goszczurny, additionally tried to cross on his personal, however failed.

The hole between the main group and the peloton grew once more on the penultimate lap. The seven had a margin of about 40 seconds, when Philipsen attacked on Montrose Avenue, the final climb of the lap. The Dane began the ultimate lap a number of seconds forward of Sierra, Nordhagen, Ørn-Kristoff and Fietzke. Storm was in a position to return to the pursuers, however Philipsen was taking extra time. When beginning the ultimate 10 kilometres, the solo Philipsen already had greater than 20 seconds.

The chasers would by no means see Philipsen once more. The Dane obtained additional and additional away, and was in a position to take the victory. Behind him there was nonetheless a giant battle for second place. Nordhagen was dropped, then Sierra had a mechanical downside, whereas Storm was in hassle once more. Of the 2 survivors, Ørn-Kristoff and Fietzke, the German had the higher dash. Sierra needed to accept fourth.

A cushty win for Philipsen by over 1 minute

World champion, Albert Withen Philipsen (Denmark): “Our plan was to race offensively with the Danish crew. We needed to make the race exhausting. He (Storm) is one other sturdy Dane. We rode very well as a crew on this group of seven. On the penultimate lap I put in a small assault and made a small hole with the remainder. Once I went I knew I may get away. I simply needed to watch for the appropriate second. From there I went full throttle. I felt actually, actually good. As we obtained extra laps in my legs, I didn’t get extra drained. It felt like I had simply began. What was going via my thoughts once I crossed the road? It feels a bit unusual. I’ve dreamed of this and labored in direction of it for thus lengthy… It’s unbelievable that it lastly occurred. I’m extremely proud. It’s a really, very huge achievement. I’ve been working for this for a very long time, so it feels nice to attain this objective. It means lots to me. It’s an excellent step in direction of my dream of changing into a professional, each on the highway and on the mountain bike. I attempt to be a flexible athlete, I like all totally different disciplines. It retains it fascinating for me. I hope to turn into an expert bike owner and revel in what I do. I actually look as much as guys who do the identical as me, so guys who mix totally different disciplines. Guys like Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock. These are my idols.”

Males’s junior podium: Paul Fietzke (Germany) Albert Philipsen (Denmark) Felix Orn-Kristoff (Norway)

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2023 World Junior Males Highway Race Outcome:
1. Albert Withen Philipsen (Denmark) in 3:06:26
2. Paul Fietzke (Germany) at 1:19
3. Felix Ørn-Kristoff (Norway)
4. Juan David Sierra (Italy) at 1:24
5. Theodor Storm (Denmark) at 1:29
6. Jørgen Nordhagen (Norway) at 1:43
7. Steffen De Schuyteneer (Belgium) at 2:57
8. Sebastian Grindley (Nice Britain) at 2:59
9. Žak Eržen (Slovenia) at 3:01
10. Oscar Chamberlain (Australia):

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