Cycling highlights: Philippe Gilbert has experienced a lot in his career. After outstanding years, it became quiet around him for many seasons. But in 2017 he suddenly came back to the top of the world and sensationally won the Tour of Flanders.
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Gilbert was at a career low
2011 was the year of Philippe Gilbert. At that time he was able to win the Ardennes Triple with victories in the Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallonne and Liège - Bastogne - Liège. Just one year later he was the undisputed world champion. After that, however, it became quiet around the Belgian. He could not fulfill the expectations placed in him. There were no victories in big one-day races. For five years he did not finish in the top 6 at any of the monuments. Labeled as an aging driver whose best times are over, many experts still regarded him at best as a noble helper with a big name. But then Philippe Gilbert switched to Quick-Step in 2017 and was to experience his second spring at the age of 34.
At the Tour of Flanders he was his old self again
Viewers noticed a changed Philippe Gilbert. Suddenly the Belgian seemed to enjoy his job again. He won the Driedaagse De Panne and was second at E3 Harelbeke and Dwars door Vlaanderen. Out of nowhere, his name suddenly came up again when it came to potential winners of the Tour of Flanders went. But he still wasn't expected to have a really good chance because he was in a team with Niki Terpstra, Tom Boonen and Zdenek Stybar. All of them could win the Ronde themselves and have shown better performances in recent years. But Philippe Gilbert got his chance - and he should take it.
Nobody could bring Gilbert back
With such a superiority of a team, the team management sometimes has to choose a special tactic. So Quick-Step decided to drive into the wall of Geraardsbergen at full speed with 95 kilometers to go. This led to the division of the main field. Top drivers who were left behind had to wait for their helpers before they could start the pursuit. An exciting hunt began, which was to reach its climax 55 kilometers before the finish line. On the second passage of the Oude Kwaremont, Philippe Gilbert attacked from the first group. His teammates put their feet up. The peloton rejoined - but Gilbert was gone. Despite joining forces, the competition - also due to a fall - did not succeed in catching up with the Belgian champions.