Belgian cycling legend Philippe Gilbert has praised Soudal Quick-Step’s Kasper Asgreen ahead of this Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, and believes he can continue to build on his form at the ‘Hell of the North’.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly, Gilbert- a former winner of both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix - explained that he was impressed by Asgreen’s Ronde van Vlaanderen performance, and believes it’s a good sign ahead of the final cobbled Monument of the Spring.

“Asgreen had a great race, of course,” Gilbert said. “After the huge crash happened because of the Bahrain rider, the race was finished for Lampaert and Alaphilippe. They were caught in the crash and suffered from it, and they never recovered.”

Coming into the Tour of Flanders, Soudal Quick-Step had struggled for form throughout the current Classics campaign.

In a press conference before ‘De Ronde’, Patrick Lefevere, the team’s general manager, called for the likes of Julian Alaphilippe, Kasper Asgreen and their teammates to “save the team’s honour”.

After spending much of the day in the breakaway before ultimately finishing seventh, Asgreen put in a solid performance which would have eased some of the pain amongst the camp after the team failed to make much of an impact this Spring on what was once their playground.  

“I talked to him [Asgreen] after the finish,” Gilbert added. “After the crash, all the pressure was on him. It was great that he could still manage to get away with the group that he did, and get his chance to be in the position to win.”

“I know that when you get deep in the final of either race, your legs are speaking more than anything else.”  

Meanwhile, Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert will be able to call upon the support of last year’s Roubaix winner Dylan van Baarle on Sunday.

Having another strong teammate to rely upon will be welcome dby Van Aert, after he slipped out of contention during Flanders after the Kruisberg climb.

Gilbert explained that despite Jumbo-Visma’s dominance this Spring, he feels that Van Aert is racing more conservatively compared to his 2022 Spring campaign. On Opening Weekend last year, Van Aert began his season with a scintillating Omloop Het Nieuwsblad win.

“He’s there, and he still wins like at E3, and is having a great season,” Gilbert said. “But I don’t think he’s the Van Aert that we’re used to seeing. Like when he won last year at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, he dropped everyone else, and was taking time on ten guys behind him. He was just gaining more time during every kilometre.”

“Now you can see that he’s counting his efforts a bit more, and things like that.”
Watch Legend: Philippe Gilbert on GCN+ via the GCN+ App, Smart TV or any web browser. Philippe will be providing in-race analysis from the back of a motorbike throughout Eurosport GCN coverage of the Grand Tours, available live and on demand (territory restrictions apply). 

Philippe Gilbert, former road world champion as well as Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix winner, believes that Soudal Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe would benefit from a change of team in the coming years.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly at Warner Bros. Discovery’s start of cycling season launch event, Gilbert explained that a fresh start, and new challenge could be key to helping Alaphilippe recapture his past form which brought him so much success including two road world titles.

“Of course, it’s already been a long time that he’s been there,” Gilbert said. “It’s already almost ten years. So a long, long time, and maybe it’s good to see other things.”

Most of Gilbert’s success came in the colours of the then Quick-Step Floors team, although the Belgian moved on to sign for Lotto-Soudal for the 2020 season. Gilbert then rode for Lotto-Soudal until his retirement at the end of last year.

“I was the first one to do the same, you know, because it’s always good to change,” Gilbert added. “It’s a new challenge, you see new people, you see new methods of training, a new method of nutrition, new material. So I think it’s always good to change after a while, yeah.”

Former two-time world champion Alaphilippe began the current season in impressive style by winning the Faun-Ardèche Classic. However, he then finished a disappointing 43rd at Strade Bianche, before finishing eleventh at Milan-San Remo. Alaphilippe then abandoned the recent E3 Saxo Classic due to illness.

In the meantime, both Alaphilippe and his teammate Kasper Asgreen- a previous winner of the Tour of Flanders- have been subject to strong criticism from Soudal Quick-Step’s general manager Patrick Lefevere in the Belgian press.

Lefevere has said that Alaphilippe in particular could leave the Belgian team if he was “tired of the environment”.

Gilbert, who is currently working as a racing pundit for Eurosport GCN+ for 2023, explained that he believes criticising underperforming riders in the media is not the right way to motivate them. 

“When you’re not good, you know you’re not good you know,” Gilbert said. “When you get criticism it’s then having a negative effect. So to me, it’s a mistake to speak like this in the media at that moment.”

Alaphilippe will share Quick-Step’s leadership duties at this afternoon's Dwaars door Vlaanderen, a race which Lefevere and other team management will have earmarked as a must-win to save their disappointing Classics campaign.

If the team are to regain their past Classics strength, Gilbert believes a new direction is needed in terms of recruitment in the off-season.

“Their only chance to improve is to sign different riders for next year,” Gilbert said. “I think Patrick knows this, and that’s why he’s realistic about their chances. It’s a cycle you know, they’re down right now, but maybe they’ll come back up. For the moment they are down in the Flemish Classics group you know.”

“They’ve definitely changed their mentality now and invested more around Remco [Evenepoel] which is more for the hillier Classics and stage races.”

Watch the 2023 cycling season live on Eurosport, discovery+ and GCN+

The organiser of the Giro d’Italia, RCS, has postponed the planned presentation of the 2023 Maglia Rosa on Wednesday evening after the death of Davide Rebellin. 

Mauro Vegni, race director of the Giro, explained that in light of the tragic circumstances it was a necessary decision. 

“I think it is a necessary decision,” Vegni said to La Gazetta dello Sport. “We cannot now celebrate on a day of mourning. The first guests have already trickled in, but it is impossible to continue this event. This touches us closely. Our thoughts go out to Davide and his family during this terrible time.” 

Italian rider Davide Rebellin, who only just retired from professional racing, was tragically killed after being struck by a lorry yesterday morning in Montebello Vicentino, Italy. 

The former winner of Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico was just 51-years-old. 

Instead of presenting the new Maglia Rosa in Milan, race officials and guests present in Milan held a minute's silence in memory of Rebellin instead. 

The former racer won a stage of his home Grand Tour in 1996. He also wore the hallowed pink jersey of the Giro d’Italia for six consecutive days that year. 

“My thoughts are with Davide, a man who was active in cycling for many years and who has given us many joyful moments. I don't think there has ever been a rider who has been active for so long. But his age was part of his way of experiencing sports,” Vegni added.

Meanwhile, a host of current and former riders, sports directors, race organisers and journalists have paid tribute to Rebellin via social media. 

Recently retired Alejandro Valverde offered his condolences to Rebellin’s family and friends. 

Valverde said: “My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Davide Rebellin, a professional colleague and rival for so many years. D.E.P.”

Valverde raced against the Italian on multiple occasions throughout both of their careers. The Spaniard finished runner up to Rebellin at the 2007 edition of La Flèche Wallonne, a race he would then go on to win himself. 

Rebellin was involved in the Beking Criterium in Monaco last weekend which was won by Belgian Philippe Gilbert. 

Gilbert shared a similar tribute to Valverde on Twitter that said: “A few days ago we were doing our last pro race in Monaco and today you left to join the stars. I think very strongly of Françoise and your family. I am very sad we will miss you amico. RIP Davide Rebellin.”

Tributes have poured in from all corners of the cycling community for Italian former professional cyclist Davide Rebellin, a former winner of prestigious races including Liège–Bastogne–Liège who was tragically killed yesterday morning. 

Rebellin, who only recently retired from the sport he loved, was killed after being struck by a truck while on a morning training ride in Italy. 

He was just 51-years-old. 

Fellow former professional, Daniele Bennati who now coaches the Italian national team posted a message on Twitter which simply read: “Tell me it isn’t true.” 

He followed this up with a longer message which referenced the death of another great rider in similar circumstances, Michele Scarponi who was killed in 2017 aged 37.

“It's too difficult to accept all this, first Michele, now you Davide. But in the midst of many, too many other tragedies that with excessive indifference are passed off as normal. Hello Sports and Humility Champion. RIP,” Bennati said. 

Meanwhile cycling commentator and former professional, Matt Stephens shared a tribute that recalled his memories of racing against Rebellin in Italy. He said: "Just returned home from a ride to hear of the passing of Davide Rebellin. So terribly sad. Fond memories of first racing against him way back in the baby Giro 1991. One thing is for sure, cycling defined his life. He lived it. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

Rebellin had only retired last weekend, and competed in a criterium in Monaco which was won by Philippe Gilbert.

Former professional Nicholas Roche was at the event in Monaco and shared a message on Twitter which read: "Tragic accident today! Only a few days ago we were celebrating his retirement here in Monaco. RIP Davide."

Philippe Gilbert, the winner of the Monaco criterium also shared his own touching tribute on social media which expressed shock at them having only just raced together. 

“A few days ago we were doing our last pro race in Monaco and today you left to join the stars. I think very strongly of Françoise and your family. I am very sad we will miss you amico. RIP Davide Rebellin,” Gilbert wrote. 

Various WorldTour professional teams shared messages on Twitter expressing shock and sadness at Rebellin’s untimely and tragic death. 

Astana Qazaqstan posted a message, which said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic news of Davide Rebellin death... it is impossible to believe...We express our deepest condolences to the family of Davide.”  

Jumbo-Visma shared a similar message: “We are deeply shocked by the sad news that Davide Rebellin has passed away. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and the (Italian) cycling peloton.”

Recently retired Alejandro Valverde, who raced against the Italian on a stack of occasions, offered his condolences to Rebellin’s family and friends. 

Valverde said: “My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Davide Rebellin, a professional colleague and rival for so many years. D.E.P.”

A host of other former and current riders, as well as journalists, race organisers and managers shared their own personal tributes to the Italian great. 

A selection of them are below.

As the Autumn weather begins to hit and cyclists worldwide begin to pull their arm warmers out of the wardrobe, the road racing season draws to a close. 

This year, the Italian monument Il Lombardia was a final goodbye to cycling for Vincenzo Nibali, “the Shark of Messina” as well as former Spanish World Champion Alejandro Valverde. Belgian legend Philippe Gilbert was another rider to hang up his wheels recently and his final hurrah on his home roads of Belgium was also a passing of the torch to recently crowned Belgian world champion, Remco Evenepoel. 

Worry not though tweets of the week super fans, there has still been plenty of action in the world of cycling social media to stir the senses this week.  

Whilst it has a plethora of benefits, social media is typically full of over-inflated opinions, delusion and misery. Therefore we’ve gone to the trouble of sorting the wheat from the chaff so you don’t have to. 

This week's edition covers goodbyes from the greats, new sponsorship announcements and a certain Danish rider showing off his big tire!

Happy reading. 

1. GOODBYE PHILIPPE, HELLO REMCO!

2. ETHAN HAYTER AND CO SHOW HOW REAL CELEBRATIONS ARE DONE

3. MADS SHOWS OFF HIS BIG TIRE

4. THE WORLD CHAMPION GETS HITCHED!

5. A NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL BREAKS THE INTERNET

6. OFFERS OF MOTIVATIONAL CUDDLES AT INTERMARCHE-WANTY-GOBERT ARE THE BELGIAN TEAMS SECRET TO SUCCESS

7. INTRODUCING NIGERIA IN A RATHER FUNKY KIT! WE LOVE IT!

8. JUST A LITTLE COLLECTION OF WHAT A SHARK ATTACK OR TWO CAN GET YOU

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Philippe Gilbert has revealed that he was offered the role of team manager by Lotto Soudal, but chose to turn it down. 

“There’s a rumour that’s going around the cycling world that I’ll be the new manager of Lotto Soudal,” said the 40-year-old, who retired on Sunday at Paris-Tours.

“I was contacted by the team a few months ago, even over a year ago about this role,” he continued. “I wanted to confirm that, with regards to the manager role, it won’t be me. I don’t feel ready. I feel honoured, though, that the team thought of me, but I’d rather leave another person to take it on.” 

Last month, Lotto Soudal team boss John Lelangue chose to step down from his role after four years at the helm of the squad. 

Lelangue’s decision came as the team faces the prospect of relegation from the WorldTour. Though this is still not mathematically certain, Lotto Soudal now appear too far adrift in the UCI points ranking, and are likely to be relegated along with Isreal-Premier Tech.

In his video, Gilbert outlined that the role of general manager is a mammoth undertaking that requires a wide range of experience. 

“Even after 20 years in cycling, I might have the experience in this little world but it’s still complicated because being manager means being in charge of a lot of employees.

“It’s not just the men's team, but also the youth team and the women’s team,” Gilbert added. “We’re talking about around 100 employees.”

The Belgian, however, did not rule out the possibility of becoming a team boss in the future. 

“It’s maybe a role that I’ll take later in life once I’ve got the necessary experience and I’ve had a bit of time to reflect,” he said. “I think first I need to find a goal in life, but maybe not a goal that’s so time-consuming and tiring.”

A former world champion, Gilbert called time on his professional career this weekend, finishing 27th in his final race, Paris-Tours. Over his 20-year career, the Belgian collected 80 wins, including victories in four out of the five Monuments. 

Speaking about his new, retired life, Gilbert said: “For the moment it’s all very new, everything’s going well, but I need to also find a balance.”

“Professional athletes, especially cyclists, aren’t well prepared [for retirement],” he added. “It’s a shortcoming in our sport that there’s no help, no support, no mental preparation. I’m lucky to be surrounded by good people.”

Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal) has spoken up on behalf of his fellow riders after a horrendous crash at the recent Vuelta a Burgos saying it is a result of 'neglicence'.

According to the Belgian, riders are still being placed in harm’s way despite rider safety being discussed more frequently at UCI level.  

In the final kilometres of stage two of the Vuelta a Burgos, a speed bump placed in a downhill section caused David Dekker (Jumbo-Visma) to crash which then caused a subsequent mass pile-up. 

Dekker was then blamed for the horrendous crash by the director of the Spanish stage race.

As a senior rider in the peloton, Gilbert has acted as a rider representative at meetings with the UCI around safety.

In a statement on social media, Gilbert wrote: “As the rider’s representative for the Athletes’ Commission of the UCI, I support all the riders who, unfortunately, crashed at the Tour de Burgos.

“I defend the safety of athletes and denounce this kind of breach! 

“I asked the UCI to create a protocol for recognition, control and validation of routes and especially for finishes. However, this is still not in place. Unfortunately the riders are always the victims of this negligence. 

“It’s time safety topics be taken seriously. Things need to change for the good of cycling.” 

The UCI have been under scrutiny for dangerous finishes in races before. Including at the Tour de Pologne in the infamous crash involving Dylan Groenewegen and Fabio Jakobsen. That particular crash caused various rules on safety to be introduced and that particular finish was banned. 

Gilbert was one of many high profile voices when the UCI overhauled its safety protocols in 2021. The regulations  brought in then would appear to prohibit finishes similar to the one in Burgos. 

“There must be no obstacles such as road narrowings, traffic islands and speed bumps in the final kilometre," reads the Specifications for Organisers, a supplement to standard regulations for organisers of WorldTour or ProSeries events, Burgos being a ProSeries event.

However, another clause in the organisation's regulations says that “in no case” can the governing body “be held responsible for any defects in the course of accidents that may occur”. Safety issues are deemed to be firmly in the remit of the race organisers. 

Multiple riders expressed their fury after being caught up in the incident last week. Eduardo Affini, teammate of Dekker, expressed his frustrations with the UCI on social media. 

Affini said: “I feel very sorry and sad for everyone involved and I hope no one is badly injured. Dear UCI, after all that happened already, to allow a finish with a speed bump so high in the last 800m coming from a super high speed section is a disgrace. Unacceptable."

Cycling Weekly has not received a reply to a request for comment from the UCI after the crash at the Vuelta a Burgos. 

Earlier this year the prospect of rolling down the start ramp at the Tour de France's opening time trial in Copenhagen felt impossibly far away for Reinardt Janse van Rensburg. He was on the brink of being forced to give up cycling.

The 33 year old had been a free agent after the collapse of Qhubeka-NextHash, at the end of 2021. 

After a rollercoaster few months, he then joined Lotto Soudal and tells Cycling Weekly being included in the team's line-up for the Tour de France, his sixth, has been a surreal experience. 

“It was quite unexpected. A few months ago I was thinking that I was going to have to retire and that my career was finished," he says.

"If you had told me even just a couple of weeks ago that I’ll be at the start of the Tour de France again, the biggest bike race in the world, I wouldn’t have believed you. It really has been an incredible ride! An amazing story and feeling. Yeah, I really am having to pinch myself a little bit about it." 

Within just five minutes with Janse van Rensburg, it’s clear that the South African rider is a fighter and that giving up over that bleak winter was never an option. 

“I was very motivated to train. I was always hoping and always believing that contracts even later in the year would come. I’d seen other riders do it before me so I knew it was possible. There was always a chance a spot may open up. I kept going and having the National Championships at home became a big goal and helped me to keep my focus,” Janse van Rensburg recalls.

“Having goals has always helped to keep me motivated in my head and to train” he added. 

Speaking ahead of the grand depart in Copenhagen on Friday, Janse van Rensburg told Cycling Weekly how special it would feel although his first would always remain a highlight. 

When Lotto Soudal unveiled its Tour team, the South African National Champion received messages from groups of well-wishers and fans that have all followed his story and were revelling in the news. 

“It’s been really incredible. I literally had hundreds of people sending me nice, personal messages and comments. It’s been actually amazing,” he says. 

“I just want to thank actually all of those people who messaged. A lot of people told me that they were inspired by my story which was so nice to hear” Janse van Rensburg adds. 

Lotto Soudal arrive at the Tour de France with ‘one of the fastest riders of the peloton’ in the shape of Caleb Ewan and first and foremost, will target stage wins with him. Janse van Rensburg’s role in the team will be to form part of Ewan's lead out train.

However, sprint opportunities at this year's race are scarce. Changes in the way the green jersey competition is contested also means that Janse van Rensburg doesn’t see the team considering the competition for now. 

“You have to be able to be competitive in the mountains and be in the intermediate sprints every day. So I actually think being a sprinter is really hard and winning the green jersey nowadays is a really difficult thing” he said. 

Regardless of results the opening  days of the race will be a time of celebration at Lotto Soudal as Tim Wellens celebrated 10 years on the team yesterday and Philippe Gilbert turns 40. 

Yet despite the upbeat atmosphere in the team, Janse van Rensburg admits that covid-19 is putting something of a dampener on proceedings. “There is definitely heightened awareness now [after the Tour de Suisse] compared to a couple of weeks ago. We’re taking all the precautions we can as a team to make sure everyone stays healthy. It’s returned to like before for us with masks, sanitising everything and just trying to keep in a group bubble, it’s not nice but I can totally understand why everyone is stressing about it right now” he said. 

In 2022, riders of the likes of Biniam Girmay (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert) have put African cycling in the spotlight. The World Championships will be held in Rwanda in 2025. African cycling appears to be enjoying a rise in prominence.

However, Janse van Rensburg says the loss of Qhubeka-NextHash was a big blow and the impact is still felt. 

“It’s terrible that we don’t have that African team now. There are very few teams at a continental level," he explains. "I think opportunities are much harder now, you have to hope that your country has got a good national programme so that they can send you to races in Europe. Otherwise you have to rely on a sponsor or something like that to get to Europe and compete. We really need to have more teams from Africa, especially at lower levels, that can help people out there get noticed. There is a lot of work to be done to help things change” Janse van Rensburg said. 

The South African rider woke up in Copenhagen on Friday and pulled on the South Africa National Champion’s jersey before getting his Tour de France under way. Speaking ahead of the start the 33 year old admitted it would be a proud moment and one he was looking forward to. 

“I guess I might be biased, but I think it’s a very beautiful jersey and a lot of South African people have sent messages of support. It’s a very visible jersey which is nice for the South African fans as they can pick you out in the peloton” he said. 

“At the moment I’m also really looking forward to the cobbled stage five” Janse van Rensburg added, although the 33 year old was coy on his individual plans for the day. 

“It will depend on our tactics as a team for the day and the race situation. One thing is we will probably be one of the teams racing quite aggressively that day so hopefully at least one of our guys will be up there at the end.” Even making it to the beginning has been an achievement for Janse van Rensburg no matter where he finishes.

Philippe Gilbert is planning to get married at the end of May to his partner, Bettina, before he returns his focus to winning races in the final season of his career.

Last Thursday, the Belgian riders ended a 966-day drought without a win on the third stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque to Mont-Saint-Éloi. He narrowly missed out on winning the fifth stage of the race, too, finishing fourth, behind Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Fenix), Oliver Naesen (AG2R Citroën Team) and Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ).

This didn't stop him from securing the overall victory, though, his first stage-race win since the 2017 Classic Brugge-De Panne as he beat Naesen by four seconds. 

Speaking after the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, Gilbert expressed his desire for the rest of his time as a professional cyclist - but first, he will marry his partner, Bettina. 

“First I will get married later this month," Gilbert said. "But after that I am still very ambitious. I want to win even more.”

The Lotto-Soudal man came into the final day, a 182.9km ride from Ardres to Dunkirk, with a lead of four seconds. He claims the disappointment from stage five made him more stressed before setting off on the last stage, but the struggles he has faced in the last few years made the win even sweeter. 

Matching the same finish time as stage six winner Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Gilbert was crowned the overall victor as his closest competitors weren't able to collect any additional bonus seconds. 

“After the disappointment of missing the stage win yesterday [Saturday], I am very happy with this overall victory," Gilbert said. "I had some stress beforehand because it was a difficult local circuit.

“It is very rewarding. I have had two years with many problems and difficult moments. But I want to finish my career at the highest level. I've never forgotten what you have to do to get to that level. The Classics were difficult for me, because I was never able to train optimally due to illness.

“Luckily it worked out here, in better weather and with a slightly shorter race. Thanks also to our great team.” 

Phiilippe Gilbert crossed the finish line first at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque third stage today (Thursday) to end a 966-day period without a win.

Attacking with 500m remaining of the 170.1km third stage ride from Péronne to Mont-Saint-Éloi, Gilbert managed to hold on to the lead and secure his first victory in nearly three years. 

The Belgian rider last won on stage 17 of the Vuelta a España on September 11, 2019 when he was at Deceuninck–Quick-Step, meaning this victory is also his first since returning to Lotto-Soudal at the beginning of 2020. 

Speaking after the race, Gilbert said: “That [last win] was a long time ago. I came here to help Arnaud De Lie but he's not here now. So I tried it myself. This is rewarding. Now I hope to go for a good final classification."

Looking ahead, Gilbert expects the final stage on Saturday to spread the peloton, which he is hoping to take full advantage of. A 182.9km race from Ardres to Dunkirk, Gilbert could still win the 4 Jours de Dunkerque overall. 

“Everything takes place on the flanks of the Kasselberg on Saturday, but in such a round you have to stay alert every moment,” said Gilbert. 

In fact, Gilbert's win is the longest time between two consecutive stage wins in any race in history, his last victory at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque coming 17 years ago in 2005. 

Three stages remain of the French race, with Gilbert sitting second in the general classification, though on the same time as leader Arvid de Kleijn (Human Powered Health).

The Lotto-Soudal rider will retire at the end of the season, as he calls time on a 20-year professional career in the peloton which has produced five Monument wins and countless Classics victories. He announced this decision last April, claiming he needs to spend more time with his family.

"At some point you have to stop," he said last year. "My career has lasted 20 years and there is more to life than just cycling. In my life I have made many sacrifices and now it is time to enjoy, for example, my family."

Philippe Gilbert will aim to complete his set of five Monuments with victory in Milan - San Remo this spring, in what will be his final season as a professional.

The 39-year-old has raced professionally for the past two decades, winning four of the five Monuments. Il Lombardia was his first, taking back-to-back wins in 2009 and 2010, before Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2011 and then a six-year wait for victory in the Tour of Flanders in 2017.

In 2019, he won Paris-Roubaix to move within one of the full set and join his compatriots Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck and Rik Van Looy as the only riders to have won all five races.

“I'm going for that missing win in Milan-San Remo," Gilbert told RTBF, "because I know how special a win in San Remo is. That gives an extra dimension to my career. However, I am not only focusing on this race. I know how difficult it is to win there." 

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While his Lotto-Soudal team-mate Caleb Ewan will combine the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in search of more Grand Tour stage wins, the Australian sprinter will also race Milan - San Remo, where he has finished runner-up twice in 2018 and 2021.

“My two earlier second places prove that I can come a long way in Milan-Sanremo," Ewan explained. "The team has helped me to prepare myself perfectly this winter, so I believe that we can deliver a top performance this year again.” 

Gilbert will take on nine races in the run-up to San Remo, including Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Paris-Nice. He will then take on the Flemish Classics before a potential final outing at the Tour de France, where he won the opening stage and took the yellow jersey in 2011.

“I am very motivated to end my career in a positive way”, Gilbert continued.

“It is nice to be able to do all the races in which I have had so many good moments once again. If I see how hard we have worked with all the team and everyone around it, I think we will have a very nice spring season.” 

Philippe Gilbert has said he is targeting "a good result in a big race" in his last season as a professional cyclist, but won't look for easy wins.

The former world champion will hang up his wheels after twenty years in the peloton, during which time he's won four out of the five monuments, only the sixth man in history to do achieve an almost clean sweep. 

In an interview in the final issue of Procycling magazine, Gilbert said: "Of course I want to win a race, but I want to be there in the final of a big race. For me, this is the most important thing. 

"I have never been the rider who has been chasing easy wins, like a lot of riders that I have seen in my career, and I have been looking for the nicest challenge instead."

He continued: "I've spent maybe 90 per cent of my career at the WorldTour level, against the best riders, and this will not change. I don't want to do small races just to get a win. If I'm in the top five at Nieuwsblad against the best I will be happy, I want to fight with them."

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The Belgian has not won a race since he moved back to Lotto-Soudal in 2020, with the pandemic and injury affecting his form. Not winning is something that he said he has struggled with.

"It has been two difficult years, two years to forget," he explained. "I hope to have a better last one. I don't like to be in this situation, and be behind, but you have to deal with it and I take this as experience also.

"I was working a lot, but I was far back behind where I wanted to be at the start. Last winter, I was really struggling, and with my age, it doesn't help. It was really hard to come back into the game, and then the season was so quick again."

Gilbert said he still has "a lot of motivation" to get results, and hopes he wins again. It will be a different feeling though, he said.

"When you are in this mood, when you always win, it becomes almost normal, and when you miss that you realise that it is really hard to win a bike race actually. I don't know how it will be when I come for a win next time, if I will be more nervous than normal, because it has been such a long time now. This is something I have never experienced, I am a bit curious about my reaction."

The 39-year old has won the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia in his storied career, as well seven stages of the Vuelta a España. In 2011, he was undoubtedly the best cyclist in the world, as he won 17 races, including the Ardennes triple of Liège, Flèche Wallonne, and the Amstel Gold Race.

Reflecting on that year, he said: "I am really happy that I enjoyed those moments, and I was always aware of what I was doing. I was working hard, I sacrificed a lot. For that year, I was almost never home, I was always training and doing recons. There was a lot of work behind it. I realised that I didn't do it for nothing, because that year was one of the best years ever in cycling. It was some good times."

Gilbert is unique in the breadth of his wins, coming in all sorts of formats, from Paris-Tours to Il Lombardia. He explained that he admires the new generation of all-rounders, but one in particular.

"Pogačar is the exception," he said. "I saw Eddy Merckx speaking about him. Eddy has heard a lot of times that the 'new Eddy Merckx' is here, he has heard that every five years. I think only now we can maybe speak about it. He's able to win grand tours, big classics, and win from February to October. Win with big gaps, not by seconds, by minutes. 

"In Pogačar I think we will find a rider that you only find fifty years or so. And all the others, OK they're really good riders, but they still have a lot to do before they become really big champions."

Greg Van Avermaet and Philippe Gilbert have spoken about their disappointment of missing the selection on the Belgian team for a home World Championships.

The World Road Championships are due to take place in late September in Van Avermaet's home region of Flanders, however, the 36-year-old has been missing his usual combative form and hasn't made the cut. 

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Van Avermaet, who has been on the start line at the World Championships for 14 consecutive years, spoke to Sporza: "It is a huge disappointment. I have been there for 14 years and just now, in my own country, I am not part of the selection. That is not nice news,

"I was secretly hoping for it, but also felt the news myself. With my normal level, I was one of the first on the selection sheet."

The former Olympic champion, Van Avermaet has not had the best couple of seasons, recently suggesting he believes it may be due to health complications.

"I have already ridden World Championships on courses that are less suitable for me. Just think of Innsbruck. That is why I was so looking forward to this World Championships, the first time in my own country, on a course that suits me," he continued.

Philippe Gilbert, a former world champion himself, also missed out on the call up by Belgium's national coach Sven Vanthourenhout, along with Tim Wellens, meaning no Lotto-Soudal riders made the cut.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Gilbert said: "It is clear that Wout van Aert is the very best Belgian cyclist of the moment. I would have liked to have helped him on his way to victory with my experience, but I have to accept the selection,"

"I experienced beautiful moments at World Championships, culminating in my world title in Valkenburg in 2012."

Gilbert, now 39-years-old, added how he accepts he has not shown the form he usually expects of himself, but says he was happy with his recent ride at the Benelux Tour where he helped Caleb Ewan and Tim Wellens.

Lotto, who are co-title sponsors on Gilbert's Lotto-Soudal outfit, also sponsor the Belgian national team, however, no Lotto-Soudal riders have been picked to ride: "I am very disappointed with the Belgian National Lottery. Even though politics and sport have little in common, it would have been good if someone from Lotto-Soudal had been there."

Wellens was a surprise rider not to be selected for the race along Ag2r-Citroën rider Oliver Naesen, the latter not even making the reserves.

The reserve list is made up of Van Avermaet, Wellens, Gilbert and then two Alpecin-Fenix riders  Tim Merlier and  Gianni Vermeersch.

The team selected for the road race is to be led by Jumbo-Visma's Wout van Aert with the rest all down to support him. They are Remco Evenepoel, Tiesj Benoot, Yves Lampaert, Victor Campenaerts, Jasper Stuyven, Tim Declerq and Dylan Teuns.

Van Aert and Evenepoel will both be riding the elite men's TT for Belgium. 

Chris Froome and Philippe Gilbert are known for their heroics on the bike but on stage 17 of the Tour de France their heroism was more reminiscent of first responders, or the characters in a Marvel film, as they helped a fan who had crashed 20 metres into a ravine on a descent.

After crossing the summit finish atop the Col du Portet, Froome, Gilbert and BikeExchange's Christopher Juul-Jensen were all descending back down the mountain to their team buses.

As they made their way down the 16.4km-long HC climb with an average gradient of 8.6 per cent, they saw a fan ahead of them miss a bend and plummet off the side of the road.

"After the race, we were descending to the foot again when we saw a cycling tourist miss a bend and fall about twenty meters down. Together with Froome and Juul-Jensen I stopped to help him," Gilbert told Belgian radio station RTBF.

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 Gilbert reveals they spent about 20 minutes helping the fallen cyclist, and his injuries were so severe they had to call the emergency services.

"These are things that almost never get in the press, but that is also part of the Tour. We lost almost 20 minutes to help that man. We had to call the emergency services because he was seriously damaged."

"I was coming down from the Col du Portet and there was a guy just in front of me who hit some gravel on a corner, and managed to hold it up, but in the process went through the apex of the bend and straight over the edge just in front of me," Froome told Cycling Weekly at the start of stage 19. "Naturally, I stopped to try and see if he was alright and try and call an ambulance to help him because he definitely seemed quite out of it, and to me as if he had a concussion. He definitely needed to be checked out medically. That’s the unfortunate side of bike riding that we all know too well."

Saying this incident is 'part of the Tour', Gilbert is not just referring to the vast swathes of fans who cycle up and down the mountains of the Tour de France in the hours before and after the pros pass, scenes regularly becoming chaotic, but he speaks from personal experience, having previously crashed on another Pyrenean descent.

Gilbert had been on the attack on stage 16 during the 2018 Tour, and as he descended the Col de Portet d'Aspet he crashed over a wall on a bend, falling four metres into the ravine and producing one of the iconic images of that race.

Philippe Gilbert has said he will retire at the end of the 2022 season, at which point he will be 40 years old.

The 38-year-old will have raced 20 seasons as a professional cyclist when he retires and will return for his penultimate year in the peloton at Flèche Wallonne after a short break from racing.

"At some point you have to stop. My career has lasted twenty years and there is more to life than just cycling. In my life I have made many sacrifices and now it is time to enjoy, for example, my family," Gilbert told radio station RTBF.

"I needed a physical and mental break, but now I'm fine again. I was able to train well and I am happy to be able to return at Flèche Wallonne. I would also have liked to ride the Amstel Gold Race but that was still too early in my training schedule."

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Gilbert says he underestimated the effect that two "serious" knee injuries had on him physically, racing through the pain to compete at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Paris-Nice, Milan - Sanremo and Gent-Wevelgem earlier this year.

"I have had two serious knee injuries and underestimated the effect on my body. I paid the toll for the many miles I rode despite the enormous pain in my knee. I was in a lot of pain for months and my body said stop. The decision to take a break was the right one. I hope to return with a better feeling," he said.

"Physically I am not bad, but I am aware that I have missed preparatory races such as the Tour of the Basque Country. Most of all, I want to have fun and try to get as far as possible. Without pressure, I may be able to race freely. I hope to be there in the finals of these beautiful Classics."

Gilbert will line up at Liège-Bastogne-Liège after Flèche Wallonne, and should be on the start line of the summer's Tour de France.

His retirement announcement means he will only have one final chance to win Milan - Sanremo and complete his set of five Monument victories, having finished 72nd at the 2021 edition.

Philippe Gilbert is set to miss the Tour of Flanders, the Belgian ruling himself out citing a lack of mental freshness, deciding instead to try and re-focus in time for the Ardennes Classics.

"We decided with the team that I was going to take a rest period now because things are not going well," Gilbert explained. "It's been a few weeks of things going wrong. We took the time to analyse everything we could analyse and the best explanation is that it is a lack of mental and physical freshness.

"I think it's due to all the work I did after my crash in the Tour de France last year...at the time there was a misdiagnosis of the knee. We did not realise the seriousness of this second fall. It was much more serious than we thought. Maybe I should have ended my 2020 season at that point."

Gilbert says Milan - San Remo was the first day he experienced no pain in his knee, but that the energy spent rehabilitating over the months leading up to that race, as well as the mental pressure he's put on himself to try and complete his set of Monument victories, means he can't currently reach his top level.

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"After analysis now, I realize that during the internship with the team in January, I was, I think, still at least 20 or 30 per cent behind the group average," Gilbert says. "I then had a period of doubt, especially because I was putting pressure on myself for Milan-San Remo, to be ready. So I worked harder to try to come back. I made a lot of physical progress since that stage, but maybe a little too fast too. And now I pay for it. At Nieuwsblad I had a good result but it was more thanks to experience than with my legs."

Gilbert will now spend nearly a week off the bike before tentatively returning to training, with half an eye on the Ardennes Classics.

"My idea is to do 4-5 days without a bike and then resume training gently. The Ardennes Classics are still possible, but it's still too early to talk about specific things. I want to feel and have my head 100 percent to play a part in the finals. That's why I compete," he said.

Philippe Gilbert said Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert have no life except for cycling and questioned how long they will be able to continue at their current pace. 

Superstar pair Van der Poel and Van Aert have taken the cycling world by storm in the last few seasons, dominating races across multiple disciplines. 

But to perform at the highest level, both in cyclocross and on the road, the two riders have to maintain form year-round, raising questions about the longevity of their current programmes. 

Gilbert, a five-time Monument winner, has shared his thoughts on how the ultra-intense training may affect Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).  

Speaking during the Lotto-Soudal training camp in Spain, reported by Cycling News, Gilbert said: “I do not know if it is possible to maintain such intensity and lifestyle for a long time, it is mentally very demanding.”

Gilbert, whose pro career has spanned 18 years, added: “They have no life except cycling. I don’t know if they’ll be able to race that long.

“It may be that they will have short but successful careers, or they may have to choose between once discipline or the other. 

“It’s not easy to race and train for 365 days a year.”

Dutchman Van der Poel and his Belgian rival Van Aert are both coming to the conclusion of their winter cyclocross campaign, where they have been the dominant riders once again.

The duo finished their road season in October, after Van der Poel took the Tour of Flanders title in a two-up sprint against Van Aert, and went straight into preparation for cyclocross.  They are also expected to start their 2021 road seasons in the coming weeks and months, with Van der Poel expected to race the UAE Tour in early February, while Van Aert is entering the season slightly later, at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic on March 26.  

Van der Poel also competes in mountain bike races at the highest level.

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Van Aert has previously said he “wonders what he’s doing to himself” with his hectic racing schedule, but says the racing year round keeps him on his toes.  

Philippe Gilbert will not feature in the upcoming Classics as he continues to struggle with a knee injury suffered at the Tour de France, his Lotto-Soudal team have said.

The Belgian crashed on a rain-soaked stage one of the Tour out and back from Nice, injuring his knee. Despite finishing the stage, it was later revealed he had suffered a broken knee cap and he subsequently abandoned.

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Gilbert returned to racing relatively quickly, taking part and finishing the five-stage Tour du Luxembourg (15-19 September). The 38-year-old then rode the one-day Belgian race Gooikse Pijl before taking part in the Belgian National Championships road race, where he finished 22nd.

He then started the BinckBank Tour on Tuesday in preparation for the Classics, completing stage one before the enforced rest day on Wednesday after coronavirus restrictions in the Netherlands forced stage two to be cancelled.

Gilbert has now said that despite his quick return to racing he has been suffering pain in his injured knee, and as such won't be ready to take on the Tour of Flanders (October 18) or defend his title at Paris-Roubaix (October 25). It caps off a difficult first year at Lotto-Soudal for the five-time Monument winner after the season's disruption by the coronavirus pandemic and now his injury.

"I quickly got back on the bike after my crash on August 29,” Gilbert said.

"Maybe I started again too soon, but the rehab was going well, the motivation and morale were still there, and I really wanted to race.

"I resumed in the Tour du Luxembourg and then competed in two more one-day races, but I still felt pain. This pain became more prominent in the first stage of the BinckBank Tour. I then realised that I couldn't be at my best at the Tour of Flanders and at Paris-Roubaix. These races are even more demanding on the body, the body must be 200% ready."

Gilbert will now head to his home in Monaco where he'll begin rehabilitation on his knee, and hopes to potentially take part in the rescheduled Vuelta a España which takes place October 20 to November 8. His long-term goal will be aiming at riding at full strength come the 2021 Classics in the spring.

“My first priority is to heal completely," he said. "I still have a lot of goals in cycling, for next season certainly, but very maybe for this season as well. Hopefully a Tour of Spain participation is still playable, but that’s not yet relevant. What matters now is a full recovery. "

Philippe Gilbert is out of the 2020 Tour de France after suffering a broken kneecap during the crash-marred stage one.

The Belgian's abandon topped off a day to forget for Lotto-Soudal, who also lost John Degenkolb after the German finished outside the time limit, having also hit the deck during the race.

“I was riding around position 20 in the peloton when they crashed in front of me", Philippe Gilbert explained. "I managed to escape that crash. I passed two, three fallen riders and thought I was safe, but then they crashed again, and this time I couldn’t avoid them anymore.

"We were lying there with 10-15 guys…immediately I tried to get up, but that was impossible. I waited there for two minutes, leaning against a guardrail. Then I left on my own without being able to really push on the pedals. In a small group of dropped riders, I managed to finish, without being able to help the others. I was in pain."

After being seen by a doctor, Gilbert says "it could have been worse" and will thankfully only face two to three weeks off the bike, enough time to hopefully recover for some of the one-day Classics to come.

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"What a disappointment for us," Philippe Gilbert said of his and Degenkolb's abandon. "We are both riders who love their sport and job. We always have respect for the races, our team and sponsors. We always fight and share the same values."

Gilbert says his team-mate should have been shown more compassion by the commissaires, after the German battled hard to try and finish inside the time limit.

"I have big respect for what John did, finishing after a nasty crash, 65 kilometres alone and arriving two minutes outside the time limit. John gave everything but got zero respect from the commissaires.

"With the rain and all crashes, at least he deserved the respect to put him inside the time limit, even if afterward he would have been unable to continue. So unacceptable."

Despite acknowledging his career would take on "another dimension" if he takes his fifth different Monument at Milan - San Remo, Philippe Gilbert is refusing to let the pressure get to him.

Ever since he won the 2019 edition of Paris-Roubaix, the Lotto-Soudal rider has fielded questions as to whether he can become only the fourth rider in history to win all five of the greatest one-day Classics.

"I knew that I would have pressure from people because it's an expectation," Gilbert said at his team's hotel just outside Milan. "It's not a thing anymore if I win tomorrow, it's just my whole career will take on another dimension and it will be something people haven't seen in so long. So it will be really special. I understand it is a lot of expectation."

The expectation is not just coming from fans and the media, but members of the peloton as well.

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"Yesterday we saw the riders from Ineos and the first thing one of them said to me was if I was ready to join history on Saturday. So it's not only coming from the public, from the media, but also from the riders. Because everyone knows it. It's clear. It's not a secret and my motivation is there, to win this race.

"I will try my best and if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I mean, then it's still a full season with a lot of races. So if I don't win tomorrow then it's off to another race and I will do like I always do after losing or winning and just reset and go on.

"This is what I always do. And this is also why I've sometimes won many races in a short time because when I win it's behind me, I don't think about it, I'm just thinking about the next one. And I will not change this."

Gilbert seems to have found an equilibrium, a peace, within the eye of the storm. Even former team-mates turned rivals are hoping he'll take victory on the coast in San-Remo.

"I think if I put a lot of stress on myself, it would be only bad for me," the Belgian explains. "And I made mistakes when I was younger because I didn't have the experience and I was attacking too early, choosing the wrong side of the bunch, the wrong wheel, things like that. I've made a lot of mistakes in the past and I just hope to not do it tomorrow. To win San Remo you need to do the perfect race. If you want to do the perfect race you have to go [there] without pressure. Because pressure is stress and with the stress you always make mistakes."

Is the 38-year-old already bored of talking about the five Monuments? Especially if he doesn't manage it this year, he's still contracted with Lotto-Soudal until the end of 2022, so he could find himself repeating this conversation in a lobby just down the road from Malpensa airport for two more years.

"Yeah but it's the same every year I go to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and they say if you win a third time then you're equal with [Peter] Van Petegem and some other riders," Gilbert laughs. "It's always the same questions. And it's normal."

However, he concedes it's better people are talking about you than not at all.

"It's also a good sign. I will do my best."

The 2020 edition will be the longest ever, with 6km added to make a total of 305km as organisers look to avoid Alessandria, which has been struck by heavy thunderstorms over the past few days.

An inland route also replaces the usual coastal passage after local authorities refused to close roads during peak tourist season. Two climbs have been added while squads have also been reduced to six riders each in order to squeeze 27 teams on the start line.

"The course we're given is an opportunity to make it harder," Gilbert said. "But now we are six riders in the team. I don't know if the guys will go [on the climbs] or wait to save teammates. So now the question is who is going to go or not? We will see."

Gilbert is not wrong. We will see.

Philippe Gilbert has said if squads are reduced beyond the six-riders being implemented at next week's Milan - San Remo, the peloton might as well race as individuals.

The Belgian was speaking ahead of a potentially career-defining week in Italy, where he will race Strade Bianche and Milano-Torino in the build-up to Milan - San Remo, where he will try and claim his fifth different Monument victory.

"This choice is very strange and it’s going to be very difficult because one rider fewer is really important," Gilbert said on the video call, sitting in his team bus to escape the stifling heat of Siena. "We already went from eight to seven riders in the big Classics and it was a big change, and now going from seven to six...it’s really the limit for this way of racing.

"I think the next step is 'ok, let’s become an individual sport and we stop with teams' because with fewer than six I don't think there's any reason to have a team anymore. I think the next step is we stop the system we have now and just have individuals."

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RCS Sport, organiser of Milan-San Remo, made a last-minute application to the UCI to allow two additional smaller teams to race the 2020 edition, with the governing body approving the request but only if every other team dropped a rider to reduce the size of the peloton.

Italian ProTeams Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec and Bardiani CSF Faizanè have now been invited to the race, as they join four other Wild Card teams, two ProTeams who qualified by ranking and all 19 WorldTour outfits, making 27 squads of six riders each in total.

More teams vying for glory could complicate proceedings for Gilbert and Lotto-Soudal, while the reduction to six could see his rivals have fewer domestiques to bring him back should he look to win from a long-range attack.

38-year-old Gilbert is contracted with the Belgian team until the end of 2022, meaning he will have two more shots at completing his Monument set if things don't go to plan this year. He says that when the racing calendar was put on hold as Europe was gripped by the coronavirus pandemic, getting back in the peloton was the last thing on his mind.

"When all this happened, we weren't disappointed, it was another level [of concern]," Gilbert said of his reaction when the calendar was postponed. "We were talking about the health of people, racing was secondary, it wasn't as important as before. We were just hoping for some better news [about the pandemic] but now we’re back in and these two races [before Milan - San Remo] are important, having competition in the legs is important.

"We've been doing a lot of training and my condition is much better than at the start of the season, I think it’s the same feeling for everyone. After the winter it’s never the same, now everyone is fit, everyone is skinny. I will expect a high level of racing."

Philippe Gilbert has confirmed his revised racing schedule as he looks to become only the fourth rider in history to win all five Monuments.

The 37-year-old will line-up at Strade Bianche on August 1, the first WorldTour event back after the coronavirus pandemic halted the 2020 racing calendar.

Then, on August 5, he will ride Milan-Turn in preparation for Milan - San Remo three days later.

While the Italian one-day Classic forms the primary objective of Gilbert's season, he will take part in seven other races in the autumn, heading back to Belgium for the Tour de Wallonie on August 16.

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The only Grand Tour he will ride is the Tour de France, the 2020 edition being his 10th appearance at the race.

October holds a number of one-day races for Gilbert, starting off with Liège-Bastogne-Liège on October 4, followed by De Brabantse Pijl on October 7 and the Amstel Gold Race on October 10.

Gilbert will end his 2020 with two Monuments he has already won, with the Tour of Flanders on October 18 and Paris-Roubaix on October 25, where he will be defending his 2019 title.

The Lotto-Soudal rider has had an eventful coronavirus pandemic, first getting fined for breaking Monaco's lockdown rules by riding outside in April, before initiating a flurry of KoM attempts on Liège-Bastogne-Liège's La Redoute climb.

Gilbert said he had intended to ride laps of an 11-kilometre loop but was issued a €100 (£87) fine for violating the quarantine rules. Authorities in Monaco and France had banned outdoor riding in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus, with the dozens of pros who live in the area forced to find other ways to maintain their form.

"Every citizen is equal before the law," Gilbert said at the time. "Just because I won Paris-Roubaix last year doesn’t mean I have more rights than another person. As a public figure, we must lead by example."

Then in June, while out filming a documentary, Gilbert's brother challenged him to try and take the Strava KoM up La Redoute. The Belgian lopped 17 seconds off Romain Bardet's previous best time, but now at least seven riders have gone even faster as the peloton gets its competitive juices flowing once more, with the return of racing just around the corner.

Seven riders have already beaten Philippe Gilbert's Strava KoM on La Redoute, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège climb.

Having won the Belgian one-day Classic in 2011, Gilbert recently returned to the route while out filming for a documentary and spontaneously deciding to try and take the Strava KoM.

The Lotto-Soudal rider lopped 17 seconds off the previous best time, riding the 1.5km ascent with an average gradient of 10 per cent in four minutes 25 seconds.

20-year-old Dutch rider Gijs Leemreize who rides for Jumbo-Visma's Development Team has since gone on to set the fastest KoM time twice. In the immediate aftermath of Gilbert's ride, Leemreize went three seconds quicker than the Belgian, setting a new best time of 4-22.

Then, on Sunday June 21, 20-year-old Mathijs Loman went seven seconds faster, with a time of 4-15, the Dutch youngster having been a Zwift Academy finalist last year.

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A few days later on Friday, members of the UCI ProTeam Bingoal - Wallonie Bruxelles headed out, with Dimitri Peyskens, Eliot Lietaer and Arken Livyns all posting times better than Gilbert's and placing themselves in the top 10 with wattages above 500w. Their team-mate Laurens Huys stormed ahead, however, setting a new best time of 4-09, averaging 22.3km/h and a heart rate of 193bpm.

Not to be outdone, Leemreize also returned to the climb that day, matching Huys' time with a 497w effort.

Ag2r La Mondiale's Lawrence Naesen has also had a go, setting a time of 4-23, and the attempts are unlikely to stop as riders recon and prepare for the one-day Classics that will take place this autumn.

Annemiek van Vleuten currently holds the QoM with a time of 5-13, set during the 2019 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which she won.

Philippe Gilbert has taken the Strava KoM on the Côte de La Redoute while out filming for a documentary.

The climb is one of the defining features of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which Gilbert won in 2011, and the Belgian lopped 17 seconds off the previous best time, riding the short, steep ascent in four minutes 25 seconds.

Averaging 20.9km/h, the only rider to break the 20km/h barrier up the climb, Gilbert took the KoM off Ag2r La Mondiale's Romain Bardet, who had the previous best time of 4-42.

The Lotto-Soudal rider was out on his "childhood roads" filming for a documentary, riding over 100km in three and a half hours.

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"Yesterday I had a filming day for my documentary and we spent a day in Belgium. My brother challenged me to take the best time on La Redoute. Try to beat it!" Gilbert said.

Gilbert's 2020 season is geared around an attempt to win Milan - San Remo, rescheduled for August 22, which would see the 37-year-old claim all five different Monuments, joining his compatriots Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck and Rik Van Looy in the select group of riders who have achieved this feat.

The Belgian has had an eventful lockdown as he bides his time waiting the resumption of the racing season, having been fined for breaking Monaco’s coronavirus lockdown rules and riding outside in April.

Gilbert said he had intended to ride laps of an 11-kilometre loop but was issued a €100 (£87) fine for violating the quarantine rules.

Authorities in Monaco and France had banned outdoor riding in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus, with the dozens of pros who live in the area forced to find other ways to maintain their form.

The Belgian said at the time: "We had found an 11km lap that we did three or four times in a row and that allowed us to get some fresh air for an hour.

"At one point, we were arrested and I was fined €100. By virtue of our status, there is no free pass. Every citizen is equal before the law. Just because I won Paris-Roubaix last year doesn’t mean I have more rights than another person. As a public figure, we must lead by example."

Monument winner Philippe Gilbert has been fined breaking Monaco’s coronavirus lockdown rules and riding outside.

The Lotto-Soudal rider said he had intended to ride laps of an 11-kilometre loop, but was issued a €100 (£87) fine for violating the quarantine rules.

Authorities in Monaco and France have banned outdoor riding in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus, with the dozens of pros who live in the area forced to find other ways to train.

Philippe Gilbert, winner five Monuments including the 2019 Paris-Roubaix, told broadcaster Monaco Info: “We had found an 11km lap that we did three or four times in a row and that allowed us to get some fresh air for an hour.

“At one point, we were arrested and I was fined €100. By virtue of our status, there is no free pass. Every citizen is equal before the law. Just because I won Paris-Roubaix last year doesn’t mean I have more rights than another person.

“As a public figure, we must lead by example.”

Monaco is a popular location for pro cyclists to set up a base, but pros are unable to train outdoors during the coronavirus crisis, unlike in England or Gilbert’s native Belgium, where residents are still allowed to exercise outside.

Chris Froome is among those having to find other ways to train, as he has taken to training on indoor platform Zwift.

Gilbert’s plans for 2020 were derailed early by coronavirus, as he is chasing victory in Milan-San Remo to complete the full set of Monument victories.

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But San Remo was one of the first races cancelled as Covid-19 took hold in Italy.

The UCI has since announced the Monuments will be rescheduled for later in the season meaning Gilbert, now 37, could still complete his career goal this year.

Zwift has seen a sharp rise in demand over the last few weeks, as cyclists get used to life on lockdown.

While many are using the indoor training app for races and workouts, Zwift are making sure we can also stay in touch with some of the biggest professional cyclists in the world.

With no clear indication of when racing will return, pros like Annemiek van Vleuten and Simon Yates have taken to the roads of Watopia during the current crisis.

Zwift has now announced the latest heroes taking to Zwift to ride alongside regular users – former world champions Philippe Gilbert and Anna van der Breggen.

The Classics stars will be the hosts in the new Zwift Royal Classics Series, a collection of Classics inspired workouts running throughout April.

Lotto-Soudal rider Gilbert and Van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) will be leading select rides, with the workouts designed by Kevin Poulton who coached Mathew Hayman to Paris-Roubaix victory in 2016.

Zwift CEO Eric Min said: “It’s an honour to have these two great champions leading this series for us.

“The Classics are races that all us cycling fans love to watch and dream of taking part.

“While it’s only ever a select number of the very best who get to battle it out, I look forward to getting a small taste of the physicality of these races on Zwift this month.”

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This new Zwift series aims to give riders a taste of the relentless accelerations and stresses that characterise the cobbled Classics.

Starting on March 30 and running through to April 20, you can sign up to these events via the Zwift Companion app.

Earlier this month, British Cycling announced its own series of races, workouts and time trials on Zwift, to encourage people to stay active during the lockdown.

The eight-week series of races kicked off this week.

While Philippe Gilbert will have to wait another year to try and complete his set of five Monument victories, the Belgian's mantlepiece won't be left bare if he fails to win Milan - San Remo during the final years of his career.

A punchy rider who knows how to win, trying to boil Gilbert's best victories down is no mean feat. With a career now entering a third different decade, Gilbert has at one point or another beaten all the best riders who've graced the peloton since the turn of the century.

Here are 10 of his best victories so far, ranked.

10. Vuelta a España 2019: Stage 17

Philippe Gilbert put the finishing touches to a vintage year for Deceuninck - Quick-Step by winning two stages at the 2019 Vuelta a España, taking his total count of Spanish Grand Tour stage victories to seven.

On stage 17, seven of the eight Deceuninck squad members made the front group as they blew the race to pieces in crosswinds. With the main GC men caught out behind a frantic game of cat and mouse making up the rest of the day's action as a blistering 50km/h average speed was set.

With 40km to go there were more riders in the breakaway than in the GC chase group behind as Deceuninck - Quick-Step pulled off a masterclass. Zdeněk Štybar attacked with 2km to go before Philippe Gilbert took over, beating Bora-Hansgrohe's Sam Bennett in the sprint finish.

9. Il Lombardia 2009

Silence-Lotto only had seven victories to their name for the 2009 season by the time August rolled around before the Belgian squad were rescued by Cadel Evans' Worlds title and Gilbert's October to remember.

After taking Paris-Tours and Gran Piemonte, the then 27-year-old countered Alexandre Vinokourov's move in the latter stages of Il Lombardia, attacking near the top of the Civiglio and then only taking Sammy Sanchez with him up the road.

The duo worked well together so as to not allow Vinokourov or Ivan Basso back into the fold. However, going into the final kilometre Sanchez sat on Gilbert's wheel, the chase group only five seconds behind but the Spaniard not willing to tow the faster Belgian to the line.

Gilbert watches the chase closing in, waiting for Sanchez's attack to come, but it didn't. Gilbert then accelerated beneath Flandrian flags at the finish line to take his first-ever Monument.

8. Giro d'Italia 2009: Stage 20

Having staved off urges to quit the race after struggling through the mountains the week before, Gilbert outfoxed the sprinters to take his first Grand Tour stage victory on the second to last day of the 2009 Giro.

On the first lap of Anagni, Gilbert spotted the perfect moment to attack, making his move in the exact same spot a lap later with just over a kilometre to the line, fending off a scrambling Thomas Voeckler who finished second.

7. Amstel Gold Race 2017

Michał Kwiatkowski was looking imperiously strong heading into the finish, attacking twice and Gilbert forced to reel the Pole back in on the second attempt.

The Belgian road race champion wasn't about to allow Kwiatkowski a third try, though, accelerating off the front of the group and taking only the Sky rider with him.

The pair sailed towards the finish, Kwiatkowski on Gilbert's wheel, the Pole launching his attack with 300m to go.

He looked to have opened up a decisive gap but Gilbert fought back, timing his counter perfectly to pip Kwiatkowski to the win.

As he crossed the line he held up four fingers to signify his number of victories in the Limburg race, his 2017 win making him just the third rider in history after Merckx (1975) and Jan Raas (1979) to win both the last cobbled Classic (Flanders) and first Ardennes Classic (Amstel Gold) in the calendar in the same year.

6. La Flèche Wallone 2011

Following triumphs at the Flèche Brabançonne and Amstel Gold Race, Gilbert was back in home territory looking for a third win in the same week.

Up the Mur de Huy Gilbert moved to the front, checked behind him, saw Alberto Contador and Joaquim Rodriguez, and then attacked, going for glory.

The pack strung out behind the unstoppable Belgian, who soloed to victory, having time to soak in the crowd as he crossed the line to claim his first, and so far only, Walloon Arrow.

5. Tour de France 2011: Stage one

Gilbert fulfilled his favourite status on stage one of the 2011 Tour, taking the first yellow jersey thanks to a made-to-match uphill kick to Mont des Alouettes.

The newly crowned Belgian road race champion followed Fabian Cancellara, who had attacked with 600m to go, and then passed the decorated Swiss rider before holding off the rest of the peloton as he claimed his only Tour stage victory to date.

4. UCI Road World Championships 2012 - Valkenburg, the Netherlands

After Luca Paolini upped the pace on the Cauberg, looking to set things up for leader Vincenzo Nibali, it was Gilbert who actually profited most, countering after the Italians had softened his rivals legs, distancing all competitors over the final metres of the climb.

Despite a chase containing Russia Alexandr Kolobnev, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Alejandro Valverde, Gilbert was away and took the first men's road race rainbow jersey for Belgium since Tom Boonen in 2005.

3. Paris-Roubaix 2019

With three out of five Monuments secured and entering into the twilight years of his career, time was against Gilbert if he wanted to complete his set.

Gilbert attacked the leading group of favourites with 65km to go, later making the decisive move with 16km remaining before Nils Politt countered a couple of kilometres later.

This dispensed with Peter Sagan, Yves Lampaert and Sep Vanmarcke, with only Gilbert able to hold his wheel.

Sagan's group were 10 seconds behind entering the final 10km, yet this gap would only increase as the leading pair entered the Roubaix velodrome.

Politt barely stood a chance against a wily veteran such as Gilbert, and the German found himself in a bind as Gilbert's team-mate Lampaert was closing in on the duo from behind.

Politt watched Gilbert like a hawk before the Belgian made a dive for the line round the final bend, outsprinting Politt to claim a momentous victory.

2. Tour of Flanders 2017

Gilbert put the hammer down on the Kwaremont with 55km to go, going off in search of what at that time was a third different Monument victory.

Behind, things were going less well for his Quick-Step team-mates, as Tom Boonen suffered a mechanical that saw him fall out of contention. Peter Sagan then took up the chase, with Greg Van Avermaet and Oliver Naesen following. However, as Sagan increased the pace the trio crashed, leaving Gilbert with a clear run at victory.

Resplendent in the colours of the Belgian road race champion, Gilbert held his bike aloft as he crossed the finish line nearly 30 seconds clear.

1. Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2011

Moreno Argentin and Alejandro Valverde had both completed the Ardennes double, winning both Amstel and Flèche Wallonne in the same year, but with victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Gilbert would become the first rider since Davide Rebellin in 2004 to complete the triple.

Unfortunately, standing between Gilbert and this accolade were the Schleck brothers. With 6km to go, it was just the Belgian and the Luxembourg duo left, the brothers needing to attack as they had no hope of beating Gilbert in a sprint finish.

Greg Van Avermaet chased behind as Andy Schleck was briefly dropped by Gilbert, Frank hanging on and offering no help as his brother eventually got back on.

Into the final kilometre, Gilbert was the filling in the Luxembourg sandwich, nestled in between the two Leopard-Trek riders. The Lotto rider eventually attacked around the final corner, blowing the Schleck's away to take the victory. Neither Frank or Andy could outwit Gilbert on the run-in, or match his power in the closing metres.

Much was made in the build-up to the Italian March races of Philippe Gilbert's opportunity to become only the fourth rider in history to secure victory in all five Monuments.

Milan - San Remo was the final one to tick off after his 2019 Paris-Roubaix victory, and a new three-year contract with Lotto-Soudal gave his endeavour hope. The developing coronavirus outbreak in Italy, however, means the 37-year-old will have to spend another year dreaming after the one-day race was cancelled alongside Tirreno-Adriatico and Strade Bianche.

"Like everyone else, I watched how sporting events were cancelled, now including Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo," Gilbert told Het Nieuwsblad. "Peoples' health is paramount. So I fully understand the decision."

Race organisers RCS Sport will now ask the UCI to find space in the calendar for the races later in the year, with October being suggested as a possible solution.

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"There is now talk of a possible later date in the season, but I find it very difficult to say anything about it," Gilbert added. "People speak conditionally and that is lost time. Just like everyone else, I hope that the season and daily life will resume in a normal way as quickly as possible."

Others are more optimistic. "The World Championships in Qatar took place on October 16 in 2016," Deceuninck - Quick-Step coach Koen Pelgrim explained. "Riders can still really recharge for an important race."

The UCI say they are waiting to see how many races end up being cancelled due to the coronavirus, with an already packed calendar making inserting even a few races a delicate affair. "It is still too premature to comment on that," said President of the UCI Road Commission Tom Van Damme. "We first have to wait and see how many races will be cancelled.

"Suppose twenty more cancellations are added, where are we going to put them? The calendar is already packed, it is not possible to simply insert twenty races. If the Italian federation were to submit a file to the UCI, it would first investigate whether that relocated race would not end up in the way of any other races."

Philippe Gilbert said he thought Remco Evenepoel was “arrogant” and didn’t take him seriously on first meeting him, but quickly change his mind about the prodigy.

Veteran pro Gilbert, the winner of five Monuments, has since taken the young Belgian under his wing during Evenepoel’s first season at WorldTour level.

But the 37-year-old Gilbert said he wasn’t always so sure about his compatriot and Deceuninck - Quick-Step team-mate.

In an interview with Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, Gilbert said: “In the beginning I didn’t take him too seriously. He said things before the race and I thought ‘Hey boy, what are you saying? Calm down a bit.’

“He would attack and ‘arrogant’ I thought until a few hours later, he just turned it into practice. Impressive.”

Along with his slew of outstanding results, Evenepoel’s team spirit has also impressed Gilbert, particularly in the Yorkshire 2019 World Championships where Evenepoel rode in support of the older rider who had crashed.

Gilbert, who is leaving Deceuninck - Quick-Step for Lotto-Soudal next season, said: “The youngest of the gang was class, which grabbed me. It’s proof of his potential.

“He thinks and acts tactically. What he did in Yorkshire was super professional.”

In his first year at the highest level, 19-year-old Evenepoel made a huge impression after stepping up from the junior tier.

He took his first pro win at the Belgium Tour, taking a stage and the overall, before he won Clásica San Sebastian with a hugely impressive ride, then following up with victory in European Time Trial Championships.

But perhaps his most impressive result was a second place finish in the World Championships time trial, finishing behind double winner Rohan Dennis.

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Gilbert said: “He is already one of the world’s top time trailers and in the middle mountains.

“I will be amazed to see how he rides against the Colombian climbing wonders.

“I think they are the only ones who can hurt him there. Bernal in particular is phenomenal in that area.”

John Degenkolb has insisted that his departure from Trek-Segafredo had nothing to do with his omission from their 2019 Tour de France squad.

The German had ridden six straight French Grand Tours since his debut in 2013 until he was left out this year, as the team took home four wins courtesy of Thomas De Gendt and Caleb Ewan.

After three years at Trek, Degenkolb has signed with Lotto-Soudal for the 2020 season. What awaits him is not yet known, however, and he says he isn't thinking about whether he will ride the Tour next year as the Belgian outfit start to make rough plans for the season ahead.

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"It's not like you're looking for another team if you're not taken to the Tour, which was definitely not the reason why I left the team," Degenkolb told Radsport News.

"We had the first team meeting and talked roughly about the direction it will take - especially for the Classics - we want to take the team to a higher level and get more results than in the past."

Although Lotto-Soudal are losing Tiesj Benoot to Sunweb, the signing of Degenkolb and 2019 Paris-Roubaix winner Philippe Gilbert will give them a great chance of taking home a number of big wins in the early season.

The duo will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the Classics, having won seven Monuments between them. Degenkolb says when they both knew they were heading to Lotto-Soudal they had time in races to start building a relationship.

"It was already clear during the Vuelta that we would both switch to Lotto-Soudal and we already had one or two opportunities to talk, we get along well," Degenkolb said.

"There will be a lot of overlaps in the spring and we will be traveling together - even in winter, to create a certain microstructure in the team."

Degenkolb's schedule has not yet been set, although it is likely he will target at least one of the spring Classics, with Tim Wellens and Caleb Ewan further options alongside Gilbert, for the Belgian squad to turn to.

Philippe Gilbert has abandoned the men's road race at the Yorkshire World Championships in tears following a crash and not being able to chase back up to the peloton.

The Belgian, who was one of the favourites going into the race, was brought down by a crash with 120km to go, as the peloton entered the Harrogate circuit.

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The 37-year-old got back up, grimacing, as Remco Evenepoel tried to shepherd him back up to the peloton.

This effort proved futile, though, with Gilbert climbing off after another couple of laps of Harrogate, with half of the starters remaining in the race with 95km to go.

Evenepoel, who was also brought down by the crash, now finds himself more than five minutes behind the peloton after the effort to try and get Gilbert back in the race.

Reigning champion Alejandro Valverde (Spain) also abandoned with 80km to go, with Britain's Geraint Thomas climbing off with 46km remaining.

The men's road race was altered this morning, taking out a couple of climbs and shortening the distance, due to the horrendous conditions out on the road caused by torrential rain.

https://www.facebook.com/CyclingWeekly/videos/437207873588427/

The Belgian squad still have Greg Van Avermaet to contest the victory, in what is one of the strongest squads present in Yorkshire.

A number of high-profile riders have abandoned the men's road race at the Yorkshire World Championships in torrid conditions.

Heavy rain has lambasted the peloton from the start of the day, with riders dealing with standing water on the roads on the mammoth Yorkshire course.

Rohan Dennis was the first high-profile abandon, having done his job of leading the peloton for the Australian outfit, days after defending his world time trial title.

The two 2019 Grand Tour winners, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) and Primož Roglič (Slovenia), were involved in a strong early break but both abandoned after their move was swept up on the first lap of the Harrogate circuit.

Ireland's Dan Martin also climbed off, having been one of the first to animate proceedings as the race rolled out of Leeds at 9am this morning.

Philippe Gilbert took the victory on stage 12 of the Vuelta a España 2019 with a ride befitting his talent and experience.

The Deceuninck - Quick-Step rider got himself into the day's breakaway, which took more than 100km to materialise, before attacking late on the final climb, holding off two Spanish chasers to sail across the line with his arms aloft.

Alex Aranburu (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) finished second after beating Fernando Barceló (Euskadi Basque Country - Murias) in the sprint finish, the pair initially holding Gilbert's wheel after he attacked but getting distanced when the Belgian kicked on.

The GC contenders rode in safely a couple of minutes later, despite a moto driver having to get off his vehicle and wave a flag to warn riders of an oil spill on one of the final corners.

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) remains in the red jersey and, after a couple of day's gifted to breakaways, the battle for the race lead will continue on stage 13 which features yet another summit finish.

How it happened

Despite a few initial skirmishes, the high pace kept the bunch together for the first 110km of racing. Eventually, a large number of riders broke clear with 62km to go, Willie Smit (Katusha-Alpecin) initially getting a gap at the front of the course before 18 other riders joined him.

Marco Marcato (UAE Team Emirates) took the KOM points up the Alto de Urruztimendi ahead of Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) and Philippe Gilbert.

Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) hit out before Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) attempted his second attack of the day, with Tsgabu Grmay (Mitchelton-Scott) countering and leading him over the Alto El Vivero with 25km to go.

Großschartner then returned the favour, beating Grmay in the intermediate sprint as the pair briefly pulled away before being caught as they started the final climb of the day to Alto de Arraiz, which had an average gradient of 10.6% over 2.6km.

Tim Declerq had done his work to set up Deceuninck - Quick-Step team-mate Philippe Gilbert, dropping off the group just before the Paris-Roubax winner attacked with 1.7km to the summit, just over 9km until the finish line.

Barceló got on his wheel, as did Aranburu, but Gilbert then kicked on again 200m later gapping the Spanish pair.

Jumbo-Visma and Roglič turned the screw as they got on the climb, looking to make life difficult for others with a show of strength, decimating the peloton.

Aranburu and Barceló trailed Gilbert with under a kilometre to go to the summit by 22 seconds, decreasing to 16 seconds by the time they'd hit the downhill into the finish with 5km remaining.

The Spanish pair started closing in in the final 2km, the gap just about holding at eight seconds. The experienced puncheur held on until the finish line, lifting his arms aloft and claiming his sixth Vuelta stage victory, as Aranburu out-sprinted Barceló behind for second place.

Vuelta a España 2019, stage 12: Circuito de Navarra to Bilbao (171.4km)

1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, in 3-48-18

2. Alex Aranburu (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA, at three seconds

3. Fernando Barceló (Esp) Euskadi Basque Country - Murias, at same time

4. José Joaquín Rojas (Esp) Movistar, at 22s

5. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Sunweb, at 26s

6. Tosh Van der Sande (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 29s

7. Cyril Barthe (Fra) Euskadi Basque Country - Murias

8. Manuele Boaro (Ita) Astana

9. Tim Declerq (Bel) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, all at same time

10. Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 31s

General classification after stage 12

1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 44-52-08

2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 1-52

3. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 2-11

4. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 3-00

5. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 3-05

6. Carl Frederik Hagen (Nor) Lotto-Soudal, at 4-59

7. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 5-42

8. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, at 5-49

9. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida, at 6-07

10. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at 6-25

Philippe Gilbert will be leaving Deceuninck-Quick-Step for a three-year deal with Belgian rivals Lotto-Soudal.

The Classics star said he wanted to leave his current squad as they would only offer him a one-year contract, which set him on the search for a new deal.

Lotto-Soudal bosses showed their confidence in the five-time Monument winner, signing Gilbert on a three-year deal at the age of 37.

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The Belgian pro said: “I still wanted to race, without any doubt. When I learned that I could only stay with my current team for one year, it was clear to me that I wanted to change. The clearest interest and project was Lotto-Soudal. Of course, I know the team, a lot of riders and staff are no strangers to me. I know the spirit and I will be part of another Belgian project.”

Gilbert will be leaving Deceuninck – Quick-Step  at the end of the season after a three year stint that saw him shine in the cobbled Classics, including a memorable solo victory in the 2017 Tour of Flanders and glory in Paris-Roubaix this season.

He has claimed 75 wins in his 17-year career, also counting two editions of Il Lombardia, four Amstel Gold Races, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the World Championships among his successes.

Gilbert added: “The past few years, I watched the team from outside and I think they maybe lacked a real leader in those races. I want to try to lift the team to a higher level, by performing myself but also by making other riders better."

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Since his professional career started with FDJ in 2003, Gilbert spent three years with Lotto in the past, before a five-year spell with BMC Racing.

Lotto sports manager Marc Sergeant said: “He has so much experience, he has won all Monuments except for one [Milan-San Remo], and he can pass on his experience to the current team, which is hungry for new success. His age is a relative term, you are as old or fit as you feel. He still has that big urge to prove himself and he is go-getter, that is his secret."

The team’s general manager John Lelangue said: “There are several reasons why Philippe Gilbert is an important transfer for us. Firstly, he is a complete leader, with his palmarès, with the evolution he made throughout his career and with his personality. That is why we really wanted him with us, to highlight the DNA of the team more clearly in the one-day races. Of all the active riders, he has the biggest one-day races palmarès; he knows what it takes to win.”

Victor Campenaerts could leave Lotto-Soudal as the Belgian team prioritise their funds for signing Paris-Roubaix winners Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) and John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), according to reports.

The team are said to have insufficient budget to re-sign the new Hour Record holder, who apparently turned down a new and improved contract earlier in the season, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports, with Campenaerts deciding to wait it out as other teams were circling with lucrative offers of their own.

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However, once Campenaerts had decided he wanted to remain at Lotto-Soudal the team's talks with Gilbert and Degenkolb had progressed so far down the road that the same offer was no longer there for the Belgian.

Campenaerts was offered a second contract renewal of far less value than the first offer, with Lotto-Soudal said to still be hoping to find additional budget and make a better proposal to the time-trial specialist. The team on Monday took to Twitter to state that contract negotiations were still ongoing with Campenaerts.

However, the Belgian isn't holding out hope and will look for a new team for the 2020 season, a task he will have to accomplish on his own until he finds a new manager having recently relieved Dries Smets of his duties, who coincidentally also manages Philippe Gilbert.

Philippe Gilbert has said his non-selection for the Tour de France will definitely play a role in whether he renews with Deceuninck – Quick-Step, his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The Belgian said that as as soon as his omission from his squad's Tour line-up was announced a number of other teams were straight on the phone to the Belgian.

Re-signing for Lotto-Soudal, where Gilbert had his most successful season ever on the bike in 2011, picking up the stage one victory and first yellow jersey of the Tour de France, both national road and time trial championships as well as a number of spring Classics titles including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Strade Bianche, would see the Belgian reunited with his old BMC boss John Lelangue.

Lelangue, a sports director at Lotto-Soudal, said that Gilbert was "on our list" of potential recruits, adding "I know Philippe well, he could be a real leader for our team. I’m definitely going to listen to his manager. He wants to race for another two years and I am convinced that he will do well. He still has the motivation of a junior."

John Degenkolb will also miss out on the Tour de France this year, having taken a memorable and emotional stage victory at last year's race, as his Trek-Segafredo team go all-in on the GC ambitions of Richie Porte, who has crashed out of the previous two editions of the Tour.

The 30-year-old told German news website Radsport News of his Tour omission: "[It is] a decision that I fully accept, because as I said earlier what is good for the team and their goals is good for all of us.

"The final decision has not yet quite fallen," Degenkolb added, "but after six consecutive participations, not going there this year is for me to get over."

Philippe Gilbert could make a return to Lotto-Soudal as he says his non-selection for the Tour de France will definitely play a role in whether he renews with Deceuninck - Quick-Step, his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

As soon as news broke of the 36-year-old's omission from the Tour, a number of teams were straight on the phone to the Belgian, Gilbert told Flemish newspaper Nieuwsblad.

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One of those teams were Lotto-Soudal, the Belgian team Gilbert last raced for in 2011, which was his most successful year on the bike. That year Gilbert picked up the stage one victory and first yellow jersey of the Tour de France, both national road and time trial championships as well as a number of spring Classics titles including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Strade Bianche.

Re-signing for his old team would also see a reunion with his old BMC boss, John Lelangue, who has made it very clear he wants to sign the 2019 Paris-Roubaix winner for the 2020 season.

"He's on our list," Lelangue said. "I know Philippe well, he could be a real leader for our team. I'm definitely going to listen to his manager. He wants to race for another two years and I am convinced that he will do well. He still has the motivation of a junior."

Another option would be returning to his first professional team FDJ, where he spent five years from 2003-2008, and his old boss Marc Madiot remains at the helm of the French team.

Other teams reportedly interested include Cofidis, who are apparently also keen on Gilbert's team-mate Elia Viviani, Mark Cavendish's Dimension Data and Arkéa-Samsic, who are lining up a move for Movistar's Nairo Quintana.

Despite initially striking a conciliatory tone and wishing his team-mates well for July, Gilbert has said he "can't really understand the decision" to leave him out of the Tour squad.

"It was a complete surprise," Gilbert said, “I had worked hard towards it. I was also extra motivated by the start in Brussels and I wanted to take revenge for last year after my heavy fall."

At the 2018 Tour Gilbert suffered a broken kneecap after a crash on stage 16, and says the decision by his Deceuninck - Quick-Step team will influence his decision on whether to remain at the Belgian outfit when his contract expires at the end of the year.

"I have many contacts and we will make the best decision in the coming weeks," Gilbert said. "But of course this non-selection will play a role in my decision whether or not to stay at Deceuninck-Quick Step. 

"In my career I have always chosen teams based on my ambitions and it will stay that way. I would like to continue for another two years and have different options. This morning, when the news appeared in the media, team managers from different teams have already called me. "

In light of leaving Gilbert out, Deceuninck - Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere has explained the rationale behind the decision, saying Elia Viviani as well as his two lead-out men Max Richeze and Michael Mørkøv were certainties, as was Enric Mas and his helper Dries Devenyns. Julian Alaphilippe is the first name on any squad list based on his current form and Kasper Asgreen's breakthrough 2019 season made him hard to leave out. Belgian champion Yves Lampaert will also provide strength and bring balance to what is already a star-studded squad.

"His non-selection for the Tour has nothing to do with whether or not Gilbert stays in the team," Lefevere said. "I have never dealt with that and will never do that. If it turns out that we miss the ball by leaving it at home, then that is so and I take responsibility for it. Or I hope he stays? You are nothing without hope.

"We'll see if I have enough money, right. If he signs, that's fine. If he does not do that, it is not the end of the world. When he signed with us in 2017, we were both very happy. We have achieved the maximum in terms of performance. "

Philippe Gilbert took third place at the Flandrian Halle-Ingooigem one-day race on June 26 but apparently failed to cheer as he stepped up to the podium as well as refusing to drink the celebratory beer provided by race sponsors.

Philippe Gilbert has said not making Deceuninck - Quick-Step's selection for the upcoming Tour de France is a "great disappointmnent", with the Belgian missing out on what would have been his tenth French Grand Tour.

The 2019 Paris-Roubaix winner was hoping to make amends for his early exit from 2018's Tour, when he crashed on stage 16 and had to helped up after falling off the road.

Philippe Gilbert said: "It's with great disappointment I have to announce that I will not be participating in this year's Tour de France. After my crash and early exit I was very motivated to return this year. It would have been my 10th Tour, but unfortunately I will have to postpone those plans."

However, seems to be taking the decision in his stride, saying he will be willing his team-mates on to victory in July: "In the next few weeks I will be the team's number one supporter. I wish all my teammates the best of luck and I am confident that the guys will bring home some nice results."

The 36-year-old, who will now miss out on a Grand Départ from the capital city of his native Belgium, is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to sign a renewal with Deceuninck - Quick-Step.

Julian Alaphilippe, who was instrumental alongside Gilbert in delivering the Belgian outfit multiple successes during the spring, recently signed a new two-year deal with Deceuninck - Quick-Step, while Zdeněk Štybar also renewed his contract.

>>> Tour de France to start a week early next year as UCI release 2020 WorldTour calendar

The futures of both Gilbert and Viviani hang in the balance, although Viviani will get the chance to prove his worth at the Tour, who will be looking to add Grand Tour stage wins to his five Giro d'Italia victories and three Vuelta a España wins.

Completing the Deceuninck line-up at the Tour will be Enric Mas, Michael Mørkøv, Max Richeze, Dries Devenyns, Belgium road race champion Yves Lampaert and Kasper Asgreen.

Asgreen will be making his Tour debut after a 2019 that would have made it difficult for team bosses to ignore the 24-year-old Dane. He won a stage and the points classification at the Tour of California and came runner-up behind Alberto Bettiol at the Tour of Flanders.

Deceuninck - Quick-Step will go to the Tour with two goals, to pick up stage wins with the Italian champion Elia Viviani while also supporting Julian Alaphilippe in his quest to defend the king of the mountains classification while also attacking the lumpier parcours in search of stage victories.

Philippe Gilbert will not participate in the Tour de France 2019 for Deceuninck-Quick-Step, says French newspaper L'Equipe.

The 36-year-old, winner of Paris-Roubaix in April, will reportedly be a reserve rider for the Belgian team which will focus around Elia Viviani for the sprints and Julian Alaphilippe for mountain stages and his defence of the polka-dot jersey. They have yet to formally confirm their Tour line-up.

Gilbert, who has ridden nine Tours in his career, is out of contract with the team at the end of 2019 having joined them from BMC Racing in 2017.

>>> Tour de France 2019 start list: Provisional team squads containing Thomas, Cavendish, Nibali, and Sagan

He's been an integral part of the team's Classics line-up and has delivered a number of major results for them, including wins at the Tour of Flanders and Amstel Gold Race in 2017, before a fifth Monument victory at Paris-Roubaix this season.

Gilbert has not completed a Tour for the team since he joined them however, abandoning ahead of stage 16 in 2017 and ahead of stage 17 last year, having completed the previous day's mountain stage despite crashing and suffering a broken knee.

The former world champion will not get the chance to start the Tour from his home nation's capital, Brussels, though says L'Equipe, and he has also yet to extend his contract with Deceuninck-Quick-Step.

The team have recently re-signed their star rider Julian Alaphilippe, despite transfer speculation linking him with other WorldTour teams. Zdeněk Štybar is the most recent rider to sign an extension with Patrick Lefevere's squad, confirming his stay with the team for a further two seasons.

Gilbert is not the only rider yet to commit their future to the team though, with Elia Viviani out of contract at the end of the season and potentially fancied by a number of teams considering his consistent performances for the past two seasons.

The team have struggled financially in recent years though and have been unable to commit huge sums of money to boosting rider salaries. Unsure of a new title sponsor before Deceuninck stepped, in Lefevere was forced to let Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders winner Niki Terpstra join Direct Energie after the Dutchman's contract expired.

Quick-Step took four stage wins at the Tour last year and will hope to do even better this year, with a team that's likely to also inclide Spanish climbing talent Enric Mas as well as Viviani and and Alaphilippe.

The Tour de France begins on July 6 in Brussels and ends on July 28 in Paris.

Philippe Gilbert has said he is not yet ready to retire but does not currently know where he will race in the future with his contract with Deceuninck - Quick-Step set to expire at the end of the season.

The Belgian is still yet to talk to team boss Patrick Lefevere about his future, but has said he will not talk about a new contract through the media, which he has accused Lefevere of doing.

>>> Julian Alaphilippe signs new two-year deal with Deceuninck – Quick-Step

"I will not talk to Patrick Lefevere in the media about a new contract," Gilbert told Belgian television network Sporza. "That is something between us. He likes to speak in the press, but I am not like that. It is enough for me to talk about my future with Patrick and my manager.

"I don't think it is necessary to talk to the media about this. If a decision has been made, you will know."

Gilbert will turn 37 in July, yet won his fourth different Monument with his Paris-Roubaix 2019 victory, beating Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) in a two-up sprint inside the velodrome.

"I still have a very good level," Gilbert said. "I'm always there, in the service of the team or for myself. Why should I think about stopping now? With so much motivation and potential that would be stupid."

The Belgian finished second to Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) in the first stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, where he, like many others, is testing out his form ahead of the Tour de France.

Gilbert said: "My condition is good. I look forward to competing again.The first stage is a tough one, with a climb of 10 kilometres. later in the week there will be more chances for me to win a stage."

His win at Paris-Roubaix 2019 meant Gilbert has won every Monument except for Milan San-Remo, where he has finished third twice, in 2008 and 2011.

Gilbert also won the Tour of Flanders in 2017, Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2011 and two successive Giro di Lombardia's in 2009 and 2010.

A glittering palmarès is topped off by his world championships road race victory in 2012, where on that occasion he beat Boasson Hagen, with Alejandro Valverde taking bronze.

On stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia 2019, Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin) had just completed the 158km course from Cuneo to Pinerolo and clambered over the first category climb to Montoso, only for a fan to try and rip a bidon out of the Austrian's mouth.

Of course, he exploded. Unleashing a torrent of abuse towards this spectator, and justifiably so. With the pressure endured by professional cyclists, it's little surprise that when things go wrong tempers can fray. In celebration of pros getting a bit hot under the collar, we have put together the best cycling hissy fits.

These videos are similar to our round-up of the best bike throws, but stroppier.

Warning: Videos contain verbal, written and/or gestured swearing

Let's start with Marco Haller's visceral attachment to his bidon

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 7/10

After crossing the finish line, Marco Haller is just minding his own business, probably making his way to the team bus after ticking off another stage of the Giro d'Italia 2019, when a fan reaches out and tries to snatch his bidon.

Haller, clearly attached to his bidon and not appreciating a stranger trying to wrench it out of his mouth, stops his bike and confronts the fan, using some bad language and asking "what is wrong with you?"

A steward then gets in between Haller and the spectator, before the Austrian starts to cycle away and threatens to knock the spectator down. Fight!

Marcel Kittel doesn't like that rear wheel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw1cKD5nAWg

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 9/10

The final stage of the Tour de France is called, by some, the world championships for sprinters. The classifications are wrapped up and most of the peloton enjoys the processional stage into Paris.

But for the quick men, the final finish line on the Champs-Élysées is often the biggest prize of the whole three weeks.

Marcel Kittel had only one stage to his name coming into the final day of the 2016 Tour and had won here before in both 2013 and 2014, so the pressure was high - even if he found it to not be high enough in his tyres...

Unfortunately, a sequence that ended with him lobbing a rear wheel (which bounced and hit a rival team car) showed that perhaps this year the pressure was too much. Kittel chased back on but did not feature in the final sprint.

What preceded the footage shown above was Kittel at first changing bikes and then finding something wrong with the rear wheel on the new bike, which is the one he sent flying.

At least he didn't throw his whole bike this time.

Thibaut Pinot will only ride Thibaut Pinot's bike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-8aTmG3vNk

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 9/10

Pinot was not best pleased when he required a bike change on the cobbled stage at the 2015 Tour, and his team car was nowhere in sight.

Offered a teammate's machine, he made it more than clear that this was not the solution he wanted.

Meanwhile, Tony Martin also suffered a mechanical, gladly accepted his teammate's bike, blew everyone away with a solo break and moved into the yellow jersey at the 2015 Tour de France.

It's this contrast in attitudes that gives Pinot such a high hissometer score.

Don't touch Cadel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikzgWE3t0A

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 9/10

Happy to have moved into the yellow jersey, and receive the prize lion that comes with the race lead, Cadel Evans did not appreciate someone stroking its mane/tapping him on the shoulder.

Thankfully it wasn't his little dog this time, otherwise he may have reacted even more strongly.

Cav's helmet bears the brunt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro2nDhJ6Wp8

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 8/10

Not really a classic bike throw, more of an annoyed drop, it's Mark Cavendish's helmet that really gets a throwing.

Following a failed attempt at a sprint stage win in the 2010 Tour de France, Cav's frustration boiled over on his return to the team bus.

This incident paled into insignificance when he won the final stage on the Champs-Elysées to take his tally that year to five stages.

Don't nick Robbie's bottle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7O1yMRYSQo

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 8/10

15 years before Haller's bidon-gate episode, Robbie McEwan is rolling back to the team bus after a rain soaked team time trial at the 2004 Tour de France, and was less than happy when some young fans made a dash for his water bottle.

Retrieving the bottle and letting them know what he thinks in no uncertain terms, the Australian sprinter will have left his mark on the people of Arras.

Wiggo clashes with a cameraman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzHmhgjL2pc

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 8/10

Chasing stage winner Peter Sagan, the cameraman had no time to check if the race favourite was within headshot of his swinging camera. Not to worry though, Bradley Wiggins made his presence known.

Warning: explicit verbal and written language on this one

Tommy Voeckler is not happy

https://youtu.be/mgsepZux4kw?t=40s

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 8/10

During his personal best stint of 10 stages in the yellow jersey at the 2011 Tour, Thomas Voeckler buried himself to hold the race lead for as long as he could.

That effort took its toll, as we can see here when he makes his feelings known to his faithful teammates. This isn't a one-off, Tommy V has previous in terms of losing his rag mid-race.

Cavendish: annoyed with the attention of a cameraman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwgksFCBet8

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 7/10

To be fair, I'd be quite irritated if I'd just finished a natural break and someone on a motorbike was pointing a camera at me.

Here we find Cavendish making his feelings about the moto perfectly clear as he chases back on to the peloton at the Tour de France.

A dog is not Gilbert's best friend

Cycling Weekly hissometer score: 6/10

This is not the first time an irresponsible dog owner or inattentive parent has allowed their animal/child to cause havoc at the Tour de France.

This time though, Philippe Gilbert puffed out his chest and stormed over to let the errant pet owner know what he thought of them. It's a bit of an anti-climax.

For those keen to point out riders chucking their bikes around, have a look at our round-up of the best bike throws.

If you've spotted any more cycling hissy fits, let us know.  

Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) won Paris-Roubaix 2019 after a two-up sprint finish inside the Roubaix velodrome against Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin).

The Belgian has now won four different Monuments, five in total, adding Paris-Roubaix to Tour of Flanders, Il Lombardia and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The former world champion entered the Roubaix velodrome in the wheel of Nils Politt, and opened his sprint in the last 100 metres, coming round the final bend.

Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) finished third, with Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First) in fourth, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) fifth and Florian Sénéchal (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) sixth.

The race, often a war of attrition, was as hard as ever today, with a number of strong riders launching multiple attacks throughout.

With 65km to go, Gilbert attacked the leading group of favourites, whittled down over the cobbled sectors, along with Politt and Rudiger Selig (Bora-Hansgrohe).

A number of riders then tried to get across, but the next big move was led by Peter Sagan, with the group reeling in Gilbert and Sagan animating the group, making it clear his intent for the move to stick.

This select group opened up a gap of more than a minute with 40km to go, featuring Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), who suffered a heavy fall earlier in the race, Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First), Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), as well as Politt, Gilbert and Sagan.

Philippe Gilbert attacked again with 23km to go, taking Sagan and Politt with him, and as Lampaert dragged Vanmarcke back up to the leading group Van Aert was distanced, paying for his misfortune earlier in the day.

Despite Gilbert's attacks typifying yet another attritional cobbled Classic, it was Nils Politt who opened up a huge gap with 14km to go, with only Gilbert able to go with him.

The two opened up a 40-second advantage as they headed towards the finish, with Sagan dropped from the chasing group with 6km to go as Lampaert hunted down the two leaders.

Gilbert and Politt entered the Roubaix velodrome, as a game of cat and mouse ensued, with both also looking around and waiting for the arrival of Lampaert. Politt led the duo, with Gilbert opening up his sprint first and going around the German in the last hundred metres to take the victory.

How it happened

Out of the 257km of Paris-Roubaix, 54.5km is covered with the 29 cobbled sectors, the first coming 97.5km into the race before coming thick and fast until the finish line housed inside the Roubaix velodrome.

The pre-race conversation centred around how open the race was this year, with many riders in contention to add the cobbled Monument to their palmarès.

Despite a flurry of early attacks, it was at the 85km mark, shortly before the first cobblestone section, where breakaway groups started to stick. Damien Gaudin (Total Direct Energie) was amongst a group of nine riders animating the race, with Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) and Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) featuring in the chasing group behind as Team Sky and Bora-Hansgrohe came to the front to drive the peloton after missing out on the moves.

The two groups came together to form a 23-rider breakaway just before the second cobbled sector, where a memorial has been created to honour Michael Goolaerts, who suffered a cardiac arrest in the race during this sector last year and later died in hospital.

Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) and André Greipel (Arkéa-Samsic) both had early punctures, before the fourth sector, and were subsequently distanced. Taco van der Hoorn (Jumbo-Visma) was one of the first to suffer a nasty fall, with television pictures showing him motionless by the side of the road, although race commentary reported he was conscious as medical staff attended to him. Deceuninck – Quick-Step's Iljo Keisse was the next, hitting road furniture in what looked a painful crash.

As Greg Van Avermaet led the race on to the Trouée d'Arenberg, Peter Sagan and Wout Van Aert found themselves off the road, with Sagan managing to stay in touch with the group but Van Aert having difficulty, being left to chase a 50-second gap to the leading favourites, swapping bikes on his way and crashing on a corner, but still making it back on.

The first decisive move of the day came at the 65km mark, with Philippe Gilbert breaking away, taking Nils Politt and Rudiger Selig with him.

A number of counter-attacks followed, first from Luke Rowe (Team Sky), then Van Aert and also Christophe Laporte (Cofidis), but it was Peter Sagan who drove the chasing group back up to the front, catching Gilbert and making it clear just before sector 11 at Mons-en-Pévèle that this would be the move that contained the eventual winner of the race.

A group of six the made it off of the second five star sector in the lead, with Sagan, Gilbert, Van Aert, Politt, Vanmarcke and Lampaert all in contention for victory.

Van Avermaet attempted to animate the chasing group as they entered sector 10, but by this point the front group of six were making their move stick.

Gilbert attacked again at 23km to go, with Sagan and Politt taking his wheel, leaving his three countrymen behind, with Lampaert and Vanmarcke chasing back up but Van Aert distanced, paying for his mishaps and subsequent efforts earlier in the day.

Gilbert attacked yet again at 16km on the final five star sector of Carrefour de l'Arbre, racing up the gutter ahead of team-mate Lampaert with Sagan marking him.

But it was Politt who went a couple of kilometres later after the sector, opening up a big gap on the group, and only Gilbert was able to go with the German.

Sagan, Lampaert and Vanmarcke chased behind, with the latter signalling for a mechanical problem, and television cameras showing he was riding on team-mate Sebastian Langeveld's bike, who is four inches shorter than the Belgian.

Peter Sagan was then dropped by the chasing group at 6km to go as Lampaert hunted down the front two, who had opened up a 40-second gap.

It was then down to just Gilbert and Politt to duel it out in the velodrome, with the more experienced Gilbert eventually coming out on top to win his first Paris-Roubaix title.

Results

Paris-Roubaix 2019: Compiègne to Roubaix (257km)

1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, in 5-58-02

2 Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin, at same time

3 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 13 secs

4 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) EF Education First, at 40 secs

5 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 42 secs

6 Florian Sénéchal (Fra) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 47 secs

7 Mike Teunissen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma

8 Zdeněk Štybar (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step

9 Evaldas Šiškevičius (Lit) Delko-Marseille Provence

10 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) ED Education Firs, all at same time

Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) said a Paris-Roubaix win had to happen on Sunday in France after the disappointment that marked the Tour of Flanders last week.

Gilbert fell sick ahead of the Dwars door Vlaanderen last Wednesday, began the Tour of Flanders and unable to continue, withdrew early. It seemed unlikely he could come back in top form one week later to win his fourth of the five Monuments, but his experience and Deceuninck-Quick-Step's might saw it happen.

>>> Philippe Gilbert wins Paris-Roubaix 2019 in velodrome sprint finish

"I put a huge amount of pressure on my shoulders after the disappointment of Flanders," Gilbert said. "It had to happen today."

He attacked with 65km to race, formed an elite group and then escaped free with Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) at 14km to race before winning on the velodrome in a two-up sprint.

"When you win a sprint there's an explosion of emotion that come from a sprint. The emotion today was a lot different because with a few kilometres to go you never know if you're going to win or not," he continued.

"I realised again today what it means to win for the Quick-Step team. 700 victories with 100 riders, that is as much as Eddy Merckx and its great to win for this team which has so many qualities. And one goal, which is victory."

The win adds to Monument wins in Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and two in Il Lombardia – only one step away from all five with Milan-San Remo. Only cycling's elite, three Belgians – Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck – have won all five Monuments.

Gilbert's career appeared in doubt after he fractured his kneecap in last year's Tour de France. He came back, however and while this spring "the results weren't there," the 36-year-old began looking for revenge.

"It comes as a bit of a revenge victory. It was a huge disappointment after Flanders. I had worked really hard. I was getting better and it was extremely tough to abandon the Tour of Flanders. I wanted to start the race despite that terrible night, losing lots of kilos," he explained.

"On Wednesday, I did six hours on the bike training around Nice. I need hills to train and that gives me a lot of confidence. The form was getting better and it gave me a huge boost for starting this morning."

The 2012 world champion made the move but began to wonder about German Politt, who only has won once in his career but has been strong all spring.

"We spent most of the day together, at least the last 70km of the day it was a nice duo," he said.

"I know him well. We were together last year just after the Arenberg and in breakaways during the season. I knew it would be an advantage to be with a rider like Nils because he's a very generous rider and he gives 100 per cent. Both of us deserve to win today."

Gilbert won the 2012 World Championships and all three Ardennes Classics. In 2018, he began to focus on the cobbled Classics and added Roubaix after his Flanders win in 2017. Each of those wins has come with a show, a long solo move in Flanders and a long fight to Roubaix this weekend.

"I like panache. I liked riders like Museeuw who would take off far from the finish. Or Bartoli. I used to dream of them and copy them in the past," he continued.

"I like these long attacks. That's where I feel I am the best. That's how I make the difference when all of the leaders are fighting together mano a mano."

Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) won the GP d'Isbergues in a "crazy" comeback after suffering a broken kneecap at the Tour de France.

Gilbert abandoned the Tour de France this July after crashing in the 16th stage to Bagnères-de-Luchon.

He misjudged a curve on the Portet-d'Aspet's descent and crashed over the roadside wall into a ravine.

>>>Quick-Step Floors defeat Sunweb to win UCI Road World Championships men’s team time trial

The Belgian made his return to racing at the GP d'Isbergues, two months after the brutal Tour de France crash and took the win.

"I am already back after two months and I took my first victory of the season," he said.

"My goal was to get a win in this last part of the season. I know it was a bit crazy and 99% of the riders would probably just be happy to come back, but I really believed I could do it."

Gilbert hoped to return before October 7 at Paris-Tours, which he won in 2008 and 2009, but his comeback happened even earlier.

"I've worked so hard to get back here today. Honestly, there have been some difficult moments when I have been at home fighting to make this comeback," Gilbert continued.

"I have had a great team around me at home but you still have to do the work yourself, to put in the energy and focus.

"After my crash, some of the most positive opinions I heard were that I should be happy if I were back on the bike within four months."

The 36-year-old Belgian admitted that "maybe" the crash could have closed his career.

Gilbert that day climbed from the ravine and amazingly finished the stage with blood running down his left leg.

He earned the most combative rider award for the stage, but scans revealed a broken kneecap and ended his race.

Sunday's race in northern France was shortened due to heavy rain. Gilbert attacked to form a large escape group and again at 20 kilometres to free himself of that move with Christophe Laporte (Cofidis).

Team-mate Florian Senechal attacked from behind and allowed Gilbert to sit on his rival's wheel.

"In the last kilometres, seeing that Florian was coming from behind, I could save a bit of energy," he added. "In the final, I just felt I couldn't lose."

Gilbert was second in E3 Harelbeke behind team-mate Niki Terpstra and third in the Tour of Flanders, again behind winner Terpstra, but he had yet to win in 2018. The victory also added to Quick-Step's tally of 69 season wins.

"I am just really happy that I got to taste the victory too in what has been a fantastic year for the team," Gilbert said.

"Now I am looking forward to what the rest of the season can bring me. Nothing is impossible on this team, and you could see that today."

Philippe Gilbert will make an unexpected return to racing this year, just two months after a dramatic Tour de France crash.

The 36-year-old suffered a broken kneecap after he hit a low wall and fell some distance on stage 16 of the Tour.

After finishing the stage, Gilbert discovered he had fractured his knee and withdrew from the race but was given the day's combativity award for his efforts.

Gilbert said: “The first days after the crash were a bit difficult, to be honest.

"Experts were saying that the injury didn’t look good and that it would take a long time to recover, many even said the season was over and that I should start focusing on 2019.

“I didn’t want to hear this however, and wanted to prove them wrong, so I worked really hard to get back, day and night. And I mean it, I literally woke up at night and started doing exercises.”

The Quick-Step Floors rider will take to the start line of the Grand Prix d’Isbergues one-day race in northern France at the end of September.

He added: “I can’t tell you how happy I am that I will be back racing this year.

“I am very ambitious. I want to win races. That is how things are working in my head.

"People may think it’s crazy to set such goals – and maybe it won’t happen this year – but this mentality is what drives me as a rider and what gave me motivation to get back to the Wolfpack as fast as possible, against all odds.”

Gilbert had attacked a 46-man breakaway on the 16th stage of this year’s Tour, and was leading on the descent of the Col de Portet-d’Aspet.

But the former world champion hit a corner with too much speed and locked up his rear wheel.

His momentum carried him into a low wall and he fell down a big drop on the other side.

Gilbert spent two days in hospital before going home to continue his rehabilitation.

After struggling through the pain to ride 20km at first, last week he was able to make his first effort on the bike.

A week-long training block still separates Gilbert from his return, but he hopes he will be able to get race speed back into his legs.

First time on the bike after my crash 🚴 Hope to be back in action this year 💪🏼 #TheWolfpack pic.twitter.com/9kwWpYuiyz

— PHILIPPE GILBERT (@PhilippeGilbert) August 9, 2018

Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) says he is hoping for a return to racing before the end of the 2018 season after breaking his knee cap in a scary crash at the Tour de France in July.

The former world champion crashed with around 60km remaining on stage 16 of the Tour to Bagnères-de-Luchon, which was eventually won by his team-mate Julian Alaphilippe.

After attacking solo on the Col de Portet-d'Aspet, Gilbert attempted on the descent to extend his lead over the other breakaway riders behind, but misjudged a left corner and locked up his bike before crashing over the roadside wall and being thrown into a ravine on the other side.

Fortunately, the Belgian was quickly up on his feet and back at the roadside where he was checked over by medical staff. After giving a thumbs up to the camera, he got back on his bike and continued the stage, drifting back to the main peloton.

Scans after the stage revealed he had broken his left knee-cap however, forcing Gilbert to abandon the race before stage 17.

The 36-year-old released a video on Wednesday showing he had returned to light training on the turbo trainer as he continues his recovery.

No timeline has been given by his team for a return, but Gilbert hopes to be fit in time for an appearance at Paris-Tours on October 7, though admits it will be "complicated" to return to full form in time.

Gilbert won two back to back editions of the French one-day Classic in 2008 and 2009, with the route altered this year with dirt roads through vineyards featuring in the final 60km of the race.

Paris-Tours is often a fast fought race thanks to a tailwind in the course direction at that time of year, and often culminates in a late breakaway sprint or a bunch finish.

"My dream would be to be at the start of Paris-Tours because it's been 10 years since I won their for the first time, it was the first big race I won in my life," Gilbert said.

"I still have time, but it's going to be complicated. The form really starts to go downhill [during injury] and I will have to work a lot to come back."

Philippe Gilbert's bitter determination was clear to see as he got back on his bike and finished stage 16 of the Tour de France after a scary crash on the descent of the Col de Portet d'Aspet, but the pain that the Belgian was going through can only be imagined after he was diagnosed with a fractured knee cap.

Gilbert fell heavily as he led the race down the descent of the Col de Portet d'Aspet as he misjudged a corner, crashed over a low stone wall and down a drop on the side of the road.

Thankfully Gilbert was quickly back on his feet, being helped to climb back up to the road where he got back on his bike in some discomfort, falling back through the race as he received medical treatment.

>>> Philippe Gilbert abandons Tour de France 2018 after stage 16 descent crash

Remarkably Gilbert still managed to finish the stage, completing the final 59km of the stage and climbing two first category climbs to get to the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon in 142nd place, 31 minutes behind stage winner and team-mate Julian Alaphilippe.

Clearly in some discomfort, the Quick-Step Floors rider limped onto the podium to receive his combativity prize with blood still running down his left leg and soaking his socks. He also needed to be helped down the steps of the medical truck as he received treatment immediately after the stage.

X-rays later confirmed that Gilbert had suffered a fracture to his left patella which will see him off the bike for four to five weeks and out of competition for at least six weeks.

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In a video posted on the Quick-Step Floors team Facebook page, Gilbert thanked both riders and fans for the support he had received after the crash.

"I'm very grateful for all the messages I have received on my phone and social media, and also to all the riders who passed me and asked me how I was," Gilbert said.

"I've got a lot of support from the cycling family and it's then that you see that it's really a nice sport. You appreciate it when you get support in hard moments like that."

Quick-Step Floors's Philippe Gilbert has abandoned the 2018 Tour de France through injuries suffered in a scary crash on a descent on stage 16.

The former world champion had attacked from the 46-man breakaway on the slopes of the third climb of the Col de Portet-d'Aspet with 71km to go, and had gained over a minute's advantage as he crested the category two ascent.

As he looked to extend his advantage, Gilbert was pushing it on the descent with his team-mate and eventual stage winner Julian Alaphilippe behind.

But on a left-hand bend, the Belgian came in with too much speed and locked up as he tried to brake, realising he was heading into the road-side wall.

He crashed into the wall and was flung from his bike into the ravine on the other side. The 36-year-old re-emerged eventually, giving a thumbs up to camera and remounting his bike, despite having suffered cuts, with a particularly severe gash on his left leg. Gilbert was given the most combative rider award after the stage for finishing despite the crash.

After visiting the X-ray truck after the stage finish in Bagnères de Luchon, it was then confirmed Gilbert would not begin the 17th stage on Wednesday, and was later diagnosed with a fractured patella.

Quick-Step Floors are down to five riders remaining after stage 16, with Tim Declerq unable to finish the stage through stomach problems and Fernando Gaviria abandoning last week on stage 12 to Alpe d'Huez.

The Belgian team have had a remarkably successful Tour so far though, with Gaviria claiming two stage wins and the yellow jersey, and Alaphilippe also taking two stages and a commanding lead in the king of the mountains competition.

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) should just race smarter and stronger, and complain less, says former world champion and rival Philippe Gilbert.

Gilbert is part of the mighty Quick-Step Floors team that won the Tour of Flanders on Sunday with Niki Terpstra. Afterwards, Sagan complained that no one would work with him to pull back Terpstra.

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"I wouldn't say anything," Gilbert said when asked what he would do in Sagan's situation.

"I was already in that situation in 2011, when everyone was riding against you. But it's that way, you just have to be smarter and stronger and make it happen."

Quick-Step Floors will race the Paris-Roubaix with 2014 winner Terpstra, Zdenek Stybar, Yves Lampaert and Gilbert as leaders.

Sagan complained about his rivals Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing), Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal) and Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First-Drapac) not working in unison to pull back Terpstra. Earlier this week, retired Classics star Tom Boonen explained that Sagan should keep his mouth shut.

"I think now he's just angry and says some things, but that's not what he really means. He's a really good guy and I'm sure we can see him in the final. And I hope to race against him in the final," Gilbert said.

"There's not much to say about thede comments. In Belgium, we already gave him three world titles. We rode for him three times in the worlds. There's nothing more to say.

"It's like this in every race, you try to win, and some times you lose. There is only one winner, and he is the only happy guy in the bunch."

With Terpstra free at 26 kilometres to race, the rest of Quick-Step Floors went into lock-down mode. Gilbert sat on Sagan's rear wheel any time Sagan tried to move free.

"The problem is that with Quick-Step, we have many guys in the final and we also block the race. It's really difficult to race when you have a team united like this," said Gilbert.

"You saw that in the past with HTC, it was kind of the same. They were winning a lot. They would have guys in the breaks and then the best sprinters behind waiting. It's the best tactic.

"I don't have to give any advice to give Peter. He's one of the best riders in history. He's showed that many times.

"I have a lot of respect for Peter. He's a big rider, he makes a show in the race. He likes to attack and wins with panache. That's why we like him."

Niki Terpstra and Philippe Gilbert put in a dominant performance with their Quick-Step Floors team in Le Samyn in Belgium on Tuesday to place first and second.

The pair had been part of a decisive break in the peloton caused by an acceleration of pace injected by the Quick-Step Floors team. Damien Gaudin (Direct Energie) came in for third place.

It's Terpstra's first victory for two years and a sign that the 2014 Paris-Roubaix winner could be back on top form for the forthcoming Classics.

Having come away from the weekend's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne empty-handed, Quick-Step Floors evidently decided to make amends by stamping their authority on the mid-week race, which features sections of cobbled roads.

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The early part of the 200-kilometre race was led by a seven-rider escape group, which included Gaudin. Behind them, Quick-Step Floors were leading the peloton in the windy, freezing conditions, ultimately causing a split in the bunch.

The Quick-Step Floors-led group of 10 riders managed to make the junction with the front group of seven to make a new leading unit of 17.

They worked well together to open up a gap over the chasing peloton, and by the half-way point of the race the gap was creeping up towards a minute.

Four laps of a 25km loop made up the second half of the race, each lap containing sectors of cobbles and short climbs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pQ0nxvvle8

A furious game of cat-and-mouse was set up between the leaders and the bunch, but try as they might, the peloton could not make any in-roads into catching the escapees.

Heading into the final 60, there were just five riders left in the lead: Gilbert, Gaudin, Terpstra, Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Soudal) and Alex Kirsch (WB Aqua Protect).

There was a momentary wobble for Terpstra, who required a bike change, but he managed to chase back into the lead quintet.

Heading into the final 25km lap, Van der Sande and Kirsch found the pace too hot, and they were dropped – leaving just Terpstra, Gilbert and Gaudin. It soon became clear that the peloton had lost its impetus, and the win would be contested from this small group, and with Gaudin at a distinct disadvantage.

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Gilbert attacked first, forcing Gaudin to chase with Terpstra sat on his wheel. Then Terpstra attacked – in what would be the decisive move.

Terpstra slipped into time trial mode, and opened up a gap over the tiring Gaudin – who let us not forget had been part of the day's initial escape – with Gilbert sat on his back wheel.

Unsurprisingly, Gilbert then dropped Gaudin in the final 3km, setting up a Quick-Step one-two that will please the home fans left disappointed after the opening weekend.

Earlier, Janneke Ensing (Alé Cipollini) had won the women's edition of Le Samyn. She finished ahead of Flootje Mackaij (Team Sunweb) and Lauren Kitchen (FDJ) at the end of the 103-kilometre event.

Result

Le Samyn 2018, 200km

1. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quick-Step Floors

2. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors

3. Damien Gaudin (Fra) Direct Energie

4. Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie

5. Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) Ag2r La Mondiale

6. Alex Kirsch (Lux) WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic

7. Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic

8. Nico Denz (Ger) Ag2r La Mondiale

9. Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty-Groupe Gobert

10. Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct Energie

Philippe Gilbert has highlighted his ambitious challenge of winning all five Monuments before he calls time on his illustrious career.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly at the Quick-Step Floors training camp in Calpe, Spain, the Tour of Flanders champion reinforced his desire to rack up more one-day success with the Belgian outfit.

"This team is really the best team to be on if you have an ambition in the Classics, this is why I am here and why I signed a new contract."

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The first main goal on Gilbert's agenda for the 2018 season is Milan-San Remo in his quest to 'strive For five', but he is well aware of the challenge in front of him.

"[Milan]-San Remo is not easy to make something happen, you see a rider like [Peter] Sagan who is the strongest there and still lose it.

"When you start Flanders in the best condition I don't think you can lose it because at the end of the day the best rider usually wins, it is the same in Liège and Roubaix as well. Whereas it is always difficult to manage the win at Milan-San Remo."

If the former BMC man was to achieve the historic feat, winning over the cobbles of northern France would also have to be conquered at some point before the 35-year-old rider retires.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pQ0nxvvle8

However, Gilbert wasn't playing up to the hype that the 'Hell of the North' typically attracts.

"We make a lot of things about it, but it is not that bad. It is like every Classic; you finish empty but it is sometimes exaggerated."

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This isn't to say that the former world champion is expecting a victorious return back onto the harsh cobbles of France on his first attempt, having made his only career appearance in 2007 where he placed 52nd.

"It is really hard to say that I am going to go there and race for the win, but of course I want to go and get a lot of experience there and get stronger after it.

"It’ll be easier to say what I think about it after the race because without the experience it is hard, but it is a special race."

Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck and Rik Van Looy are the only three riders to have ever won all five Monuments, but Gilbert feels he is at the best team to help him join this legendary trio, re-invigorating his career by moving back to the Belgian team at the beginning of last season.

"I was happy to change team because I did five years at BMC and it was a good experience but it was time to change and sign for Quick-Step because it was what I really wanted.

"That is why I contacted Patrick [Lafavere] one and half years ago, and I think I made the right decision."