Winner of eighteen UCI events in 2011 and world number one, Philippe Gilbert could be feeling a lot of pressure to succeed this season, not least because he is on a new multi-million euro wage from the BMC Racing Team. However the Belgian has said that he is trying to approach the year with a relaxed attitude, not obsessing about clocking up particular wins.
“It's difficult to hope to win this race or that race. I don't need the extra pressure because I will start most of the Classics as one of the favourites,” he said. “Instead, I will just hope to do my best and be as prepared as possible.”
The attitude is one which has been successfully used by many athletes in the past; specifically, to work hard to be in the best possible condition, then lining out in events focussing on their own performances rather than obsessing about what rivals might do.
Accepting that it’s impossible to control every factor is important in staving off pressure. Gilbert has the reassurance that his approach worked well in 2011, and also because he should have stronger team-mates by his side.
“I know what I did last year was incredible. But I had good support and confidence from my team – which I already have from the BMC Racing Team now,” he explained. “So I know I will have the support and the condition it takes to do a good performance.
“Physically, sometimes you can be three or five percent less of what you want to be and you don't win. But I'm ready for this. If I don't win, it's sports.”
Gilbert’s standing is at an all time high after 2011. He clocked up an impressive list of victories, including 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 racked up stage wins in the Volta ao Algarve, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour of Belgium, the Ster ZLM Toer and the Eneco Tour of Benelux.
It was a dominant display, and it was little wonder that he ended 2011 as the clear number one in the UCI WorldTour ranking.
Looking to 2011, Gilbert said that his main focus is to avoid crashes and becoming ill. The 29 year old believes if he does that, then the results will follow.
“I just try to restart after every season, whether it's a good, bad or just a lesser season. I always want to do my best. I don't think about winning. I always have the same motivation and goals whether I have won a race or not. I will start every race like I have never won it, whether I have won it before or not.”
He is expected to make his 2012 debut in the Tour of Qatar, which begins on February 5th.