Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium: Jasper Philipsen storms to win in final straight
Green Jersey winner pips top riders Mark Cavendish and Tadej Pogacar to seal victory at Suntec City course
SINGAPORE — Belgian Jasper Philipsen held off the challenges of Tour de France legend Mark Cavendish and world No.1 cyclist Tadej Pogacar to win the 2023 Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium on Sunday (29 October).
In front of a packed Suntec City Singapore street circuit crowd, the 25-year-old - the winner of the Green Jersey as the points classification champion at this year’s Tour de France - crossed the finishing line in a time of 1hr 20min 33secs, ahead of second-placed Cavendish and Pogacar in third.
Consisting of 27 of the world’s best riders and top cyclists from Singapore, Malaysia Thailand and South Korea, the 43-member peloton had to navigate 20 laps of the 3km course, which took them around the War Memorial Park, Esplanade Drive and the Suntec City Fountain of Wealth.
Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome and Singapore's own Yeo Boon Kiak were among the early pacesetters, but two-time Tour de France champion Pogacar soon put himself in pole position after three laps.
He would hold on to the lead until the final straight, where Philipsen emerged tops in the sprint to the finish.
“I thought (Pogacar) was pretty strong. It was hard to catch him but we got him in the end," the Belgian said after his win.
For Pogacar, there was some consolation as his UAE Team Emirates won the team time trial.
The Singapore Criterium event also saw a Kids Ride, a CEO Breakfast Ride, a DHL Charity Ride and the PRURide Seeker’s Criteriums for men’s novice, women's and men’s Open races.
There were also pre-event and post-event concerts held at the Fountain of Wealth headlined by DPR IAN and DJ KSHMR respectively.
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