Giro di Lombardia ends Philippe Gilbert’s season
The newly-crowned UCI Road World Champion, Philippe Gilbert had high hopes from the first World Tour race after winning the rainbow jersey but was unfortunately caught up in a disastrous crash and could not get back on his bike.
The Belgian was looking good during the penultimate World Tour race of the season, the Giro di Lombardia 2012 but a crash at the steepest climb of the race, Muro di Sormano ruined his plans.
The 30-year-old was amongst the favourites before he crashed, "Suddenly, without knowing why, my wheel slipped,” he recalled.
“It must have been at about 60 km/h, at the end of a fast right-hand bend. I slid about 15 metres".
Muro di Sormano has been included in the ‘Race of the Falling Leaves’ after an absence of 50 years and straight away it played its part.
Gilbert was lucky to have survived any major injuries but nevertheless, the crash brought an end to his 2012 season.
After starting the season rather slowly, the cyclist was coming back on track with stage victories at the Vuelta a Espana, finishing third at the La Fleche Wallonne and sixth at the Amstel Gold Race.
Philippe was part of the strong Team BMC line-up that won silver medal UCI Road World Championships trading team’s time trial.
The biggest victory of his 2012 season came during the 2012 UCI Road World Championships as he stormed passed the finish-line and secured the first position.
Gilbert covered the distance of 269 kilometres in a total time of 6 hours, 10 minutes and 41 seconds and grabbed the gold medal.
Norwegian cyclist, Edvald Boasson Hagen finished second and received silver while Alejandro Valverde of Team Spain was awarded with the bronze medal for his third place finish.
"I'm injured on both elbows, both knees, my hip, my left buttocks, both shoulders...”.
“The important thing is there is nothing broken. It's better [to crash now] than in February or last week: my season is over anyway".
"It was a shame, as I felt really good and I'm sure I would have been with the best in the finale. Would I have won? Nobody can say that. Rodriguez is a great winner".
Despite the disappointment, Gilbert generously appreciated Joaquim Rodriguez effort to win the race and claim the UCI World Tour Individual Rankings and noted that the Spaniard rode brilliantly throughout the season and deserves to be on top.
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