Signing the best young talent at UAE Team Emirates

Joxean Fernández Matxin 
General Manager – Team UAE Emirates

The first time I heard and saw something of Jasper Philipsen was in 2014 but 2015 is when I was really impressed by him. It was in the Paris Roubaix junior race – his first year as a junior. Bram Weltem who now rides for Arkea – Samsic won the race, Jasper was fourth with a teammate finishing ahead of him, but I feel he was the best rider in the race. He certainly got my attention. The next year I spoke to him and his family at Paris Roubaix. Two Dutch guys finished first and second, Jasper was fifth but again, he was the strongest in the race.

Within a couple of weeks, he won Guido Reybrouck Classic, E3 Harelbeke and ITT national championship. It was clear that he was a big talent. From the moment I met him you could tell he is determined and convinced of what he wants. He’s a winner. I could see it from the first day.

My philosophy is to believe in the athletes before they become champions. That’s how champions are made. It’s easy once they make it to say I already knew. The belief in the right athletes is very rewarding. There are very good cyclists who win races, but then there are champions. Jasper is a champion.

Tadej Pogačar is another talent like Jasper. They are different kind of cyclists but you will see what Tadej will achieve. Pay attention. It’s going to be big. I also met him when he was a junior. He is the kind of person who has always impressed everyone around him. He does not do extraordinary things, he does normal things extraordinarily well. 

Talent can’t be taught, it can’t be acquired, it is genetics. You have riders with very good physiological data, but who never win a thing. Staying at the top in the world for your entire career takes real talent, character and class. Other factors come into it as well like the choice of where you are going to develop. That can perhaps be more important than the talent himself. A team or a wrong decision can mark the career of many cyclists.

Photo: BettiniPhoto©