Philippe Gilbert (OmegaPharma-Lotto) has won the Kristallen Fiets (Crystal Bike) award for the third consecutive year. The Walloon rider took the prize this year in recognition of another dominant year in the hilly classics, as well as his two stages of the Vuelta a España, where he also wore the red leader’s jersey.
The award is made on behalf of the French speaking Walloon half of the country, although it has a Flemish name as it is sponsored by newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws.
Gilbert’s spring campaign had him aiming at all of the classic races. Despite his best efforts Milano-Sanremo finished in a bunch sprint, won by Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and in the Ronde van Vlaanderen he managed to escape the peloton but could only finish third behind Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
He began his Ardennes campaign in perfect fashion with victory in the Amstel Gold Race. This was followed by a creditable third place in la Flèche Wallonne, but he couldn’t match the pace of Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) or Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) in the closing kilometres of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and has to be content with the third step of the podium once more.
A quiet summer followed, with just a stage and a spell in the lead at the Ronde van België, as he built towards his second set of targets: the World Championships and the Autumn classics. The Vuelta has become a training race for many, but Gilbert still managed to take two stage wins and spent five days in the race lead. Despite a devastating final lap attack in Melbourne though, he was caught by the peloton and missed out on the rainbow jersey, which went to Norway’s Thor Hushovd on the course that all the pundits said a sprinter could never win on.
On his return to Europe though, he took the compensation of his second successive wins at the Giro Piemonte and Giro di Lombardia. He completely dominated the competition with 676 points.
"One more prize," laughed Gilbert according to Het Laatste Nieuws. "It’s becoming a habit, but it is always nice of course: the recognition of the specialists, former champions, federation leaders and journalists that I am as good as the previous year. Actually I have 2011 in my thoughts more than I have remember what I've accomplished in 2010."
Despite his considerable success this year, Gilbert is still hungry for further success and knows exactly what his targets are.
"My objectives? Simple", he continued. "I've already won five classics. This year I won even more than I expected before the start of the season; but I still have dreams. Scoring in the classics, which I have not scored yet for example. The Ronde van Vlaanderen, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix. Why not?
“I look forward to a possible duel with Tom Boonen in the Ronde van Vlaanderen."
The award was dominated by OmegaPharma-Lotto riders, with Jurgen Van Den Broeck taking second place, with 456 points, after his fifth place in the Tour de France. Boonen was third, with 204 points, despite missing much of the season with knee injury.
Kristallen Fiets top five:
1. Philippe Gilbert (OmegaPharma-Lotto) 676pts
2. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (OmegaPharma-Lotto) 456
3. Tom Boonen (Quick Step) 204
4. Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil) 168
5. Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) 152