Philippe Gilbert talks about his “Rainbow Season”
Reigning UCI Road World Champion, Philippe Gilbert enjoyed a terrific 2012 season with the news side, Team BMC.
After having a slow start to his 2012 campaign, the Belgian picked his first win at stage 9 of the Vuelta a Espana 2012 along with a stage 19 win at the race.
Two stages at the third and the final Grand Tour of the season was enough for Gilbert to find his 2011 form, which helped him with a first overall spot at the UCI World Tour Elite Men Rankings.
The 30-year-old rode brilliantly during the UCI Road World Championships and overcame Edvald Boasson Hagen and the Alejandro Valverde to win the rainbow jersey.
The cyclist cited that he made some mistakes towards the end of the 2011 season which ruined his 2012 start.
"After that first team training in December 2011 I was dead, I respect the process of my bosses, but I've learned to talk,” Gilbert explained to Het Nieuwsblad.
"I'm an old rider. I'm too old to change now. I'm not interested in numbers and values. A cyclist is not a Formula 1 driver who gives all numbers of the machine to engineers after testing and then there is a solution”.
"I made my switch to the BMC bike but made the error, for example of not including in my contract that I would ride my own saddle and pedals," said Gilbert at the launch of his new book.
Philippe’s other commendable performances of the season include a silver medal at the UCI Road World Championships Men’s Team Time Trial event, a third place finish at the La Fleche Wallonne and a sixth overall finish at the Amstel Gold Race 2012.
He started riding professionally with Team FdJeux.com in 2003 and stayed with the team by the end of 2008 season before signing a three year deal with Team Silence-Lotto, through 2009-11.
After a marvelous 2011 season, the Gilbert was approached by several teams and decided to pledge his future with Team BMC.
He is now looking ahead a positive start to the 2013 season with Santos Tour Down Under as the biggest goal of his new season and will move on to the Ardennes Classics wearing his rainbow jersey.
Tags: