Philippe Gilbert eyes the Giro di Lombardia after the Worlds glory
After his stunning victory last week at the UCI Road World Championships, Philippe Gilbert has now set his eyes at the Giro di Lombardia on September 29, this Sunday.
"Phil is very motivated to take his first win wearing the rainbow jersey on Saturday in Lombardia”.
“He didn't party for very long, the course suits him and he's fit," Team BMC sports director Rik Verbrugghe briefed to
Sporza.
"Every champion has an off-year," he continued. "I think that Philippe had it now and that we will see a beautiful World champion next year".
The cyclist had a terrific past season and filled his bag with over a dozen victories in the past season including the National Road Race and Time Trial Championships.
He secured the top podium spot with as many as 718 points after the final 2011 UCI World Tour Elite Men ranking.
Last year’s Tour de France winner, Cadel Evans achieved the second position with 584 points with Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (446 points), Michele Scarponi (419 points) and Tony Martin (349 points) claiming the next three spots.
The 30-year-old started off the 2012 season rather slowly with his first victory coming at the stage 9 of the Vuelta a Espana 2012.
Gilbert also succeeded during the 19th stage of the race and found the right form for biggest cycling gala of the year, the UCI Road World Championships 2012.
The event was scheduled in Limburg, Holland and the Belgian was already rated as a pre-race favourite by the experts.
He rode brilliantly during the 261 kilometre Elite Men Road Race scheduled on September 23rd in Valkenburg, Netherlands.
Philippe adjusted his pace with the peloton, saving his strengths for the climax of the race, knowing he was riding for glory.
The cyclist launched his final attack in the final 2 kilometres of the race and managed a four second lead over the Norwegian cyclist, Edvald Boasson Hagen who had to settle for the second position.
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte of Team Spain fell further one second behind at the third position with John Degenkolb and Lars Boom occupying the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
Team BMC is hopeful that the Belgian manages to continue his winning momentum at the Giro di Lombardia and help the side with some useful UCI points.
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