With Milan Sanremo now less than a week away, Philippe Gilbert gave further notice of his sparkling form when he clocked up his second race victory in eight days.
The Belgian followed up on his triumph last Saturday in the Montepaschi Strade Bianche when he darted to success on Sunday’s fifth stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in Castelraimundo. He led out the sprint from a chasing group and overhauled Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM), Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (Movistar Team) and Davide Malacarne (Quickstep Cycling Team) immediately before the finish line.
The win was his third of the season, as the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider also took a stage in the Volta ao Algarve. He’s in the race to hone his form for the Classics, and also to notch up world ranking points. “I did not come here with the idea to race for the GC,” he told the media after the podium presentation. “I came here at Tirreno-Adriatico to put in the kilometres after my win in Strade Bianchi. Today I had more faith than yesterday. Every point I gain in the ProTour is very important.”
Taking the stage wasn’t simply about his acceleration in the final 500 metres. It was also about his tactical decisions and his determination.
“There were some serious climbs today,” he said. “Four kilometres before the top, I was in some difficulties, but then I realised at the top I was okay. On the decent, we could gain time. These types of short climbs, 2-3 kilometres, are ideal.
“The only thing today was that the escape today had a good gap on us, still a minute near the end. I did not work, I was alone, I left that up to Scarponi, Nibali, Cunego and Basso.”
Previously, Gilbert gave it a good go on Saturday’s stage to Chieti, riding aggressively in the finale. However he cracked slightly on the long, steep climb up to the finish. A big part of the reason was because he didn’t know the full details of the course.
“I hoped for more yesterday, but the maps in the race book are not always the same as what we find,” he said. “In the end, though, yesterday, I was not upset. I know Cancellara was confused.”
Today’s finish was not as difficult, in terms of terrain. However he had to use good racing awareness and tactics in order to ensure that things worked out as well as they did. He described how things played out after Nibali attacked.
“Evans left a gap to Nibali; at that point I made an effort to get to Nibali,” he said. “As soon as I got back, Evans tried.
“At one kilometre [to go], Vacansoleil also tried, but I was committed not to try that early. If I had a team-mate, I would have sent him to the front then. I relied on my experience for these types of finishes. There were two curves, which always slows down an escape, it was close, but I was able to get them at the last 50 metres.”
Two stages now remain in the race. Monday’s leg is a tough, lumpy 178 kilometre race from Ussita to Macerata. Tuesday’s concluding leg is a very flat 9.3 kilometre time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto.
Gilbert is seventh overall, 23 seconds behind race leader Cadel Evans. Providing he can maintain or build on his form, he should be a hot favourite for Milan-Sanremo.