Having taken the title in 2009 and 2010, Philippe Gilbert was awarded his third straight ‘Flandrien’ award in Vilvorde on Sunday. The competition to determine the best Belgian rider, which is based on a voting system organised by Het Nieuwsblad, saw him win ahead of Nick Nuyens, Jelle Vanendert, Johan Vansummeren and Jurgen Van den Broeck.
Gilbert’s victory was a foregone conclusion, considering the year that he had. It was by far the best of his career and saw him finish as the clear winner in the UCI WorldTour ranking, as well as taking 18 victories.
These wins include a stage in the Tour de France (where he also wore the yellow jersey), the Montepaschi Strade Bianche, Flèche Brabançonne, the treble of Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, as well as the Belgian time trial and road race championships, the Tour of Belgium, the San Sebastian Classic, the Grand Prix of Québec, the Grand Prix de Wallonie and the Ster ZLM Toer.
He also took stage wins in the Volta ao Algarve, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour of Belgium, the Ster ZLM Toer and the Eneco Tour of Benelux.
“Liege-Bastogne-Liege was the best,” he said, according to Sporza. “It was a dream to win that race because I'm from the area. Also I have great memories of the first stage of the Tour de France. I had previously said that I would win that, and it was my first victory in the Belgian tricolor.”
Gilbert appeared to be running out of steam towards the end of the season, and wasn’t able to take what would have been his third victory in Il Lombaria on Saturday. He’s still had a remarkable year, though, and is already thinking about 2012. It will be his first season with the BMC Racing Team, and he’s keen to chase new targets.
“My season was fantastic and it will be difficult to equal it in the future,” he told DH.be. “My objectives for 2012 are based particularly on the races that I haven’t yet won. I’m thinking about Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders and the world championships.”
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Philippe Gilbert’s 2011 victories (not including criteriums)
16/02/2011, Volta ao Algarve, Stage 1 : Faro - Albufeira, 2.1s
05/03/2011, Montepaschi Strade Bianche, 1.1
13/03/2011, Tirreno - Adriatico, Stage 5 : Chieti - Castelraimondo, World Tour
13/04/2011, Brabantse Pijl, 1.HC
17/04/2011, Amstel Gold Race, World Tour
20/04/2011, Flèche Wallonne, World Tour
24/04/2011, Liège - Bastogne - Liège, World Tour
28/05/2011, Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique, Stage 3 : Bertem - Eupen, 2.HCs
29/05/2011, Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique, 2.HC
18/06/2011, Ster ZLM Tour, Stage 4 : Verviers (Bel) - La Gileppe/Jalhay (Bel), 2.1s
19/06/2011, Ster ZLM Tour, 2.1
26/06/2011, National Championships Belgium (Hooglede-Gits) R.R., NC1
02/07/2011, Tour de France, Stage 1 : Passage du Gois - Les Herbiers/Mont des Alouettes, GT1s
30/07/2011, Clasica San Sebastian - San Sebastian, World Tour
11/08/2011, Eneco Tour of Benelux, Stage 3 : Heers - Andenne, World Tour
15/08/2011, National Championships Belgium (Tervuren) I.T.T., National championships
09/09/2011, GP de Québec, World Tour
14/09/2011, GP de Wallonie, 1.1