Cycling: Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) made history again yesterday. Now the Belgian belongs to the small group of professionals who won both classics on cobblestones with the Tour of Flanders and Paris – Roubaix. But the 36-year-old wants more. He is now just one win away at Milan-Sanremo to complete all five monuments in his palmarès. We look back on all his victories and venture a look ahead.
2009 & 2010: Gilbert wins the Tour of Lombardy twice
In 2003, Philippe Gilbert began his professional career with Team Française des Jeux. In small, one-week round trips and one-day races, he quickly developed into a winning driver. He celebrated his first victory in a semi-classic in 2006 at Omloop Het Volk. In 2009 his hunt for the monuments began. After a stage win at the Giro d'Italia, wearing the Silence - Lotto jersey, he secured his first success at the autumn classic Giro di Lombardia. On October 17, 2009, Gilbert was able to win at the 103rd edition of the Lombardy tour stop six kilometers from the finish together with Samuel Sanchez in the San Fermo della Battaglia climb. In the final sprint in Como he left the Spaniard behind - and thus won the fourth bike race within ten days and his first monument. Only a year later he repeated his triumph at the "Race of the Falling Leaves".
2011: Liège – Bastogne – Liège and the Ardennes Triple
After Philippe Gilbert also won the Amstel Gold Race and a stage at the Vuelta a Espana in 2010, he was unstoppable in the following season. From February to September 2011 he celebrated a total of 18 victories in the jersey of the OmegaPharma - Lotto team. So he managed the Ardennes Triple. Almost without competition he won the Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallonne and Liège – Bastogne – Liège. He also secured his first – and so far only – stage in the Tour de France, becoming Belgian champion in time trials and road races. He also added the Clasica San Sebastian, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Strade Bianche to his long list of successes. This dominance made Philippe Gilbert the most sought-after professional cyclist in the world. Team BMC secured the services of the Belgian, who then pursued his previous successes for years.
2017: A low is followed by the triumph at the Tour of Flanders
The following year, the Ardennes Triple was only ranked #6, #3 and #16. Gilbert didn't really get into shape until the end of the season. He saved 2012 with two stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana and the world road racing title. Between 2012 and 2016 things got a lot quieter around him. Although he was still a winning driver, his dominance at important races had disappeared. As it turned out, he worked to change his specialization. From being a top puncher, he wanted to evolve into more of a cobblestone contender. After three top 10 places at the Tour of Flanders however, only very few expected that Gilbert, who had gotten on in years, could still land the really big hit. But that's exactly what he managed to do with an impressive solo at the Round of Vlaanderen 2017. Another decisive factor was his switch from BMC to Quick-Step.
2019: Gilbert also wins Paris – Roubaix
Philippe Gilbert's resurgence in 2017 was followed by a weaker season. In 2018 he was unable to win an important race. But when the Tour de France stopped in Roubaix, he impressed with fourth place. At Paris - Roubaix he started again for the first time after 2007 and finished 15th. The competition was warned. Because of a weak spring and the generally strong competition within his own team, the experts had him on the list, but Gilbert was not given the best chance of winning. But on April 14, 2019, Philippe Gilbert delivered perhaps the best race of his career. The Belgian attacked several times, initially initiated a group of six and was then alone with the German Nils Politt. He was able to leave this behind in the Roubaix Vélodrome – and so with him Paris-Roubaix 2019 secure the fourth monument.
Gilbert: "Now only Milan – Sanremo is missing"
Even before his victory in the Tour of Flanders, Philippe Gilbert spoke in interviews about wanting to win all five monuments. So far, only three professionals have managed to do this. Rik Van Looy celebrated eight victories at monuments between 1958 and 1965, Roger De Vlaeminck even eleven from 1970 to 1979. Of course, Eddy Merckx towers above all with 19 triumphs. He even won every monument at least twice. Gilbert will try to do the same for his three compatriots in 2020. But although Milan - Sanremo is the easiest classic, it is probably the most difficult to win. Too many contenders to win. Gilbert finished third twice in 15 starts. The 36-year-old will not get many more attempts …
Philip Gilbert, after his win at Paris – Roubaix:
“It has always been my dream to win all the monuments. Now I'm one step closer to that. Many people were pessimistic. You said I can't do it. But two years ago I won the Tour of Flanders and now Paris – Roubaix. I've changed as a rider, transforming myself from a puncheur to a cobblestone specialist. I've worked hard to go chasing the big five: now only Milan – Sanremo is missing.”