Philippe Gilbert eyes the London Olympics after the Tour de France disappointment
After winning the UCI World Tour Elite Men Category for the past season, Philippe Gilbert’s performance in the current season has been a bit of an enigma.
The cyclist won almost every race he participated in last year and has struggle to bag a single win in the first half of the 2012 season.
His only admirable performances in 2012 include a third place finish at the La Fleche Wallonne and a sixth place finish at the Amstel Gold Race.
The Belgian occupied the top overall position at the 2011 UCI Elite Men Category with as many as 718 UCI points to his credit.
Cadel Evans finished second with 584 points while Joaquim Rodriguez (446), Michele Scarponi (419) and Tony Martin (348) securing the third, the fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
Gilbert’s occupied the top overall positions at the Tour of Belgium, Ster ZLM Toer, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallone and the Clasica de San Sebastian.
Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, Montepaschi Strade Bianche, Brabantse Pijl, Gp De Wallonnie and achieved the second overall position at the Eneco Tour 2011.
Gilbert has now set his eyes at the 2012 London Olympics after riding the Tour de France as a domestique for Cadel Evans and Tejay Van Garderen.
“The Tour was very difficult, but I also worked a lot for Van Garderen and Evans,” he told Cyclingnews.
“When you have to protect them from the wind every day, it does take up a lot of energy”.
“Which is why I haven't been much at the front in the stage finishes. But that was my role at this Tour".
"There is of course a small feeling of disappointment at BMC, but I think we can still be happy with the race's outcome”.
Philippe will face stiff challenge by Mark Cavendish of Team Sky who is a pre-race favourite to grab gold in front of the home crowd.
The British team’s confidence is sky high after terrific performance at the Tour de France and the 2012 Olympics is an ideal stage for the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Christopher Froome and Mark Cavendish to make full use of the home turf.
The 2012 Olympic Games is scheduled from July 28 to August 12, 2012 and all the main cycling nations are eyeing the biggest cycling gala of the season.
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