Philippe Gilbert (Silence Lotto) continued his hot streak by winning today’s 184km Giro del Piemonte in Fossano, Italy. The Belgian has been unstoppable since placing sixth at the World Championships, taking three victories in a row, winning last Sunday’s Paris-Tours and the Coppa Sabatini three days before.
In Fossano, Gilbert beat Spaniard Daniel Moreno (Caisse d'Epargne), fresh off a win in the Vuelta A Chihuahua in Mexico, and Italian Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-NGC). Luca Paolini (Acqua E Sapone) and Reiner Honig (Vacansoleil) finished a strong fourth and fifth.
The Giro del Piemonte serves as the final tuneup before Sunday’s Tour of Lombardy. Gilbert looks to be in the form of his life going into Lombardy as the top favorite, but Robert Gesink (Rabobank) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC) will do their best to spoil Gilbert’s streak.
Steven de Jong (Quick Step) took part in his last race of his career before he starts a new chapter in his life. According to Wielerland he will be becoming one of the director sportifs of Britain’s Team Sky. VeloNation reported about rumored talks between the two parties back in August.
Read Philip Deignan's blog entry on VeloNation for a first hand account of the race.