In the Tour Down Under, Lidl-Trek's young rider Albert Philipsen, at just 18, is emerging as a significant contender, supported by sports director Kim Andersen. Ahead of the queen stage, Philipsen is viewed as a protected rider, showcasing remarkable talent in his first WorldTour stage race. Andersen notes that the race's favorable conditions make it ideal for young athletes. Despite his success, Andersen remains cautious, recognizing the difference between junior competitions and the demanding nature of higher-tier races, emphasizing Philipsen's readiness and enthusiasm for this challenge.
"Patrick has the seconds but as we have seen in training, Philipsen is the strongest," Andersen told Cyclingnews before stage 4.
"This race here is very good for a young guy, because it's not long distances, and there's quite good roads, so it's not too technical," Andersen said.
"I think this race is a little bit special. It's WorldTour but it's the first one, and you cannot really compare it with the WorldTour races in Europe," he said.
"It's junior distance in kilometres. That will change when it comes to the harder races. I think it was a perfect goal for him to have, and he was really excited to come here," Andersen said.
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