Alpecin-Fenix play chase blame game after missing out at Gent-Wevelgem

WEVELGEM BELGIUM MARCH 27 Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team AlpecinFenix competes during the 84th GentWevelgem in Flanders Fields 2022 Mens Elite a 2488km one day race from Ypres to Wevelgem GWE22 WorldTour on March 27 2022 in Wevelgem Belgium Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Jasper Philipsen (foreground, 21st) and Tim Merlier (background, sixth) co-led Alpecin-Fenix at Gent-Wevelgem (Image credit: Tim de WaeleGetty Images)

With no Mathieu van der Poel leading Alpecin-Fenix at Gent-Wevelgem, the Belgian squad looked to sprinters Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen for leadership during Sunday's race.

The strategy didn't work out as hoped, with Merlier finishing sixth in the bunch sprint behind the four escapees, while Philipsen took 21st place in the same group. On the final run-in, the team had played its part in chasing the attackers and eventual race winner Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), along with Groupama-FDJ and QuickStep-AlphaVinyl. However the chasers lacked the speed and unity to catch the winning attack.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.

Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix –  'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.