Tre Valli Varesine 2025 has become yet another trophy in Tadej Pogacar’s extensive palmares. However behind him, the second place went to the man who could well become his successor at the Classics – Albert Philipsen. The freshly 19-year-old prodigy from Lidl-Trek managed to sprint towards a second place from the group that came together behind the lone leader.
“It was a really tough race. At the beginning, I didn’t feel very good, I was still affected by yesterday’s fatigue,” Philipsen referred to yesterday’s Coppa Bernocchi at the finish. “But at some point, I managed to get through it. The team worked very well again, and I stayed in a good position all day. It was a really enriching experience.”
“Today we wanted to race aggressively. Quinn (Simmons) was very strong along the way, but unfortunately he couldn’t hold on until the finish. We still kept pushing and I finished second. I didn’t expect it at all, I’m really happy with this result.”
For the rising star, it’s a best professional result to the day, slightly topping the third place overall at Tour de Hongrie. But if Philipsen continues to improve at this pace, he’s guaranteed to replace this second place with a big victory in no time.
In his first professional season, Albert Philipsen has taken on 37 race days so far with one more planned out for this Sunday with the Paris-Tours. The 1.Pro race with gravel sectors in vineyards near the city of Tours should suit the junior mountain bike champion like a shoe and it’s certainly a goal to compete for victory at some point in the future, if not already this week.
“And now? I’m going to take a few days off, then compete in Paris-Tours on Sunday,” he concluded, confirming that Il Lombardia will not be a part of his calendar in 2025 although it’s becoming clear that Philipsen doesn’t lack the right qualities for the Classic of the falling leaves.