After ending his season with an amazing streak of victories in the Coppa Sabatini, Paris-Tours, Giro del Piemonte, and the Giro di Lombardia, Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) has received another prestigious award – Sportsman of the Year - to go alongside his Flandrien of 2009, "Crystal Bike", and the 2009 Trofee voor Sportverdienste (National Merit trophy for sport) awards.
Gilbert, 27, has enjoyed his most successful season ever in 2009. Before finishing off with his unbelievable string of wins, he captured the overall victory in the Ster Elektrotoer and a stage win in the Giro d’Italia. At the World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, Gilbert also rode strongly finishing in sixth place.