In this case i can't imagine many scenarios in which this would be a problem. Unlike back in Sint-Michielsgestel, the WCC RR has dozens of possible winners, and Van der Poel and Philipsen are merely two of many. Nys and Groenendaal were basically two out of four possible winners. And unlike Devenyns with Alaphilippe, Philipsen isn't a domestique who's job it would be to do exactly that, close gaps and ride against other nations.
The moment Philipsen would be obligated to ride after Van der Poel, that would mean there are no other Belgian workers left (De Clerq, Lampaert...) but neither would Evenepoel or Van Aert, because they would be the guys that would need to watch guys like Van der Poel and follow. Furthermore Philipsen is a veritable ace in the hole in case everything comes back together for a sprint. So in order for no actual domestiques to be around anymore, the race would have to have been underway for a while, maybe even into the final part. Which means the team would need to start playing philipsens card as a legitimate option anyway, so he should not be doing any work regardless imho.
In a scenario say where Evenepoel has attacked, and Van der Poel has started to chase, well, i would wish Van der Poel all the luck in the world, but it wouldn't be enough. So Philipsen chasing would not really make a difference either. I guess there could be a scenario when only a select few riders are left, including the aforementioned, with other top contenders and riders attacking left and right and Van Aert/Evenepoel not being able to respond to every attack, when Van der Poel goes and Philipsen would need to react. But frankly, i think by then Evenepoel would have attacked and the scenario where Van der Poel is chasing Evenepoel or Van Aert in order for Philipsen to win, seems like a much more likely scenario than Philipsen being put in a position having to chase Van der Poel for his co-leaders.
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