Former Tour de France green jersey winner Jasper Philipsen said after Tuesday's route announcement that he has “seven or eight” chances to sprint in the 2025 Tour.

The Alpecin-Desseuninck rider has won nine sprint stages in the last three Tours and will be in contention for points next summer. He will also have a rare opportunity to win the yellow jersey on opening day in Lille.

At the presentation in Paris, Philipsen said the “big goal” is the 185-km, mostly flat first stage, which starts and finishes in the northern city.

“This Tour de France will be a prospect for the team. We are already thinking about the start in Lille. A chance to grab both the stage and the yellow jersey. It's a unique opportunity and I think it will be a big goal right away.”

“The rest of the Tour also offers seven or eight sprint opportunities for me as a sprinter. These stages are not always flat, but they are not bad for us. We'll have to look at it in more detail, but for now I'm happy.”

With nine wins in 2024, Philipsen has won three Tour stages along with Milan-San Remo and Bruges-Des Pannees, making him the top sprinter in the UCI ranking behind Tadej Pogachar and Remco Evenpole.

In Paris, he was alongside green jersey winner Biniam Guillemay (Intermarché Wanty) and Mark Cavendish, the stage win record holder who will retire this winter.

“For example, the real mountain stages up to La Plagne seem really tough to me. The Tour is usually a program for me, but right now everyone is still enjoying their vacations. But right now everyone is still enjoying their vacation.