Following another dazzling season that included his first win at the Amstel Gold Race, and his first stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana, along with repeat victories at the Giro del Piemonte and the Giro di Lombardia, Philippe Gilbert is taking stock and setting his goals for the coming season.
The 28 year old Walloon enjoyed yet another season of improvement capped off with another sparkling end to a long, successful year.
"The six Classics are a dream, but I'll take them one by one. Next year, I'm aiming at the Ronde van Vlaanderen," said the native of Verviers in a conversation with Het Laatste Nieuws.
In this case, Gilbert includes Paris-Tours with the big five of Milano-Sanremo, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and the Giro di Lombardia when speaking of the coveted and hallowed Monuments of cycling. With Paris-Tours included, Gilbert has victories in two out of the six (four wins total: two at Paris-Tours, two at the Giro di Lombardia), and there's little doubt that many more are on the way.
With the goal of winning all the Monuments in mind, Gilbert seems to prefer to target his efforts on the races where the rider with the best form (and of course a healthy dose of tactical nous) will prevail.
"You can be 100% at Sanremo and still end up 20th. That will never happen at the Ronde van Vlaanderen. If you start there in top form, you'll finish fifth at the worst."
Gilbert has finished on the podium at La Primavera once, in 2008, and last year finished 9th before going on a torrid streak through the spring that rarely saw Gilbert out of the mix with third at Gent-Wevelgem, third at the Ronde van Vlaanderen, fifth at the Brabantse Pijl, first at the Amstel Gold Race, sixth at La Fleche Wallonne, and third at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. While there was only one win in that mix, the possibilities are unquestionable, particularly in Belgium's biggest race as well as the southern half of Belgium's biggest race.
"I also dream of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, because it's like the Ronde - when you're at your best, you'll never finish outside the top five."
It's clear that a 100% in-form Philippe Gilbert is arguably the best all-round one day specialist at the moment. The real question though is if he can beat the true specialists at their own game? When it comes down to a showdown on the Muur van Geraardsbergen next April, will Gilbert be able to leave behind the likes of Cancellara and Boonen? It doesn't seem too crazy to suppose that it's extremely realistic for Gilbert to join the other two giants in 2011.
With Flanders firmly in mind, Gilbert is looking to change up his spring a little bit next season. He will eschew Paris-Nice for Tirreno-Adriatico.
"That has really become a stage race for climbers. To me, that is too heavy for that time of year."
Interestingly, Tirreno-Adriatico is the race often considered to be the stepping stone to success at the year's opening Monument, Milano-Sanremo. While Gilbert might not be putting all of his eggs into winning La Classicissima, he certainly doesn't appear to be against putting himself on the start line in Milano with a good chance.