Jasper Philipsen claimed victory in Stage 4 of the Renewi Tour 2026 after edging out Olav Kooij in a thrilling sprint finish in Bilzen-Hoeselt. The win also sees the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider move back into the overall lead ahead of Sunday’s final stage in Leuven.
Hilly stage keeps the race alive
The rolling roads of Haspengouw ensured that Stage 4 was never a straightforward sprint stage. From the opening kilometres, attacks and accelerations kept the peloton under pressure.
Race leader Jenno Berckmoes remained attentive throughout the day, while several breakaway riders fought for the bonus seconds available at the Green Kilometer. Their advantage proved enough to prevent major changes in the standings during the middle part of the stage.
Tense finale
As the race approached Bilzen-Hoeselt, the intensity increased. Søren Kragh Andersen launched a determined late attack, while Lotto Intermarché attempted to split the race on the climbs and isolate the main sprint favourites.
Those efforts almost paid off, but a reduced peloton eventually regrouped heading into the final kilometres. That set the stage for another showdown between the fastest riders in the race.
Philipsen times it perfectly
Kragh Andersen was only caught inside the final kilometre, making way for a sprint finish.
Philipsen and Olav Kooij emerged as the strongest riders in the closing metres. Kooij appeared to have the advantage, but Philipsen produced a perfectly timed final acceleration and threw his bike at the line to secure the victory.
The bonus seconds earned with the stage win also return the blue-green leader’s jersey to the Belgian rider.
Jasper Philipsen reaction
“It was another demanding day. The constant up and down and the weather conditions made things difficult. I felt a little less fresh towards the end compared to the previous stages.”
“I had to improvise in the sprint. I initially wanted to launch on the left side but couldn’t find the space. Eventually I spotted an opening and committed to it. It was extremely close with Olav, but my final jump made the difference.”
With one stage remaining, Philipsen heads to Leuven as the race leader. However, the challenging final stage means the battle for overall victory is far from over.
