Philippe Gilbert's most memorable victories

No rider in the current peloton who has won more different monuments then Philippe Gilbert. Apart from Milano-Sanremo, he won every monument on the calendar. Combine that with the fact that he won a world title and stages in all grand tours and you know that you're speaking about one of the best cyclists of this century. In this article we will describe 5 memorable victories from the now 40 years old Belgian. Five moments that everyone will remember and that put him in cycling's history book

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2011

Not just this victory but the whole Spring campaign was memorable. He competed for the victory in every classic from Strade Bianche till Liège-Bastogne-Liège and became only the second rider history who was able to complete the Ardennes triple. He entered the final with the Schleck brothers. Many would get nervous to enter the last few kilometers with the two strong brothers around but he could keep his cool and sprinted to the victory in 'his' monument. Later that year he would also win the opening stage of the Tour de France and finish as Number 1 on the UCI World Tour rankings.

Worldchampionships 2012

Has the Belgian team ever be more united then on the 23th September 2012? The year has been a big struggle for Philippe Gilbert. He joined a new team but his new Spring campaign was far below the expectations. In the Vuelta, we saw sparks of his old form again what made him one of the leaders of the Belgian team next to Tom Boonen. A perfect team effort launched him on the Cauberg and the peloton didn't see him again till the finish line. He could resist pressure from the chasing riders and took the world title in his Valkenburg.

 

Tour of Lombardy 2010

Did any other monument have such terrible weather conditions since the Tour of Lombardy in 2010? The riders had to suffer all day through a bath of heavy rain. 20 km from the finish in Como, Gilbert launched an attack with home rider Michele Scarponi. The two managed to build up an 1 minute gap pretty fast and it was clear that they would compete for the victory. He dropped Scarponi on the last climb and expanded his lead in the wet downhill and extended his title in Lombardy for another year.

Amstel Gold Race 2017

Winning a race with a broken kidney? Impossible! You would think so but it did really happen. Gilbert broke his kidney during the race but the adrenaline kept him pushing and even sprinting for the victory. The then 34 years old Belgian can make a gap with Michal Kwiatkowski in the deep final. It seemed like it was the Pole who would sprint to the victory but Gilbert could come back in the end and take his 4th Amstel Gold Race. After the race, they encountered a broken kidney in the hospital and it made an end to his Spriing campaign.

Tour of Flanders 2017

The two best Belgian classic riders of the century together in one team. Philippe Gilbert & Tom Boonen have long been part of rivaling sides but for the 2017 season they were both part of the Quickstep team. Both were present in a breakaway group that distanced themselves on the 'Muur'. A bit earlier then expected, Gilbert got a gap on the Oude Kwarement. There was no way back and he attempted a solo attack till Oudenaarde, 55 km further away. His victory was long at risk with a chasing group getting closer & closer but a weird crash on the final Kwaremont climb ruled them out of the victory. Gilbert stayed strong till the line and won his first cobble monument. It made him confident that he also could make an attempt in Roubaix one day.