I just looked up the interview, here's what Philipsen said himself last week:
(gt) For some colleagues, spring ends after Sunday. Not for you. Your name is still on the start list of the hilly classic Amstel Gold Race (Sunday April 14, ed.).
“That is still the case. (Grins) But I'm curious whether I can continue my form for so long. That is also a question mark for me. The big goal of course awaits on Sunday. My participation in the Amstel should mainly be seen as a test. A test in which I want to explore my possibilities in that kind of one-day work. After Sunday it will become clear whether or not I will appear at the start in Maastricht.”
But regardless of this... yeah, I'd be surprised as well if he's much of a factor. Amstel doesn't look like a race particularly suited to him.