Rabobank directeur sportif Erik Dekker has said that the team will rely on Robert Gesink plus one other unnamed rider in tomorrow’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with both working together to try to get the better of Philippe Gilbert plus the other favourites.
The Dutchman spoke to VeloNation after the teams’ presentation, and said that Gilbert was the biggest obstacle to success in the Classic. Because of that, Rabobank has another rider it will protect, although he was being coy about whom that is.
“We have one secret weapon in the team, so I won’t tell you. Robert is the safest, of course,” he said in a video interview. “He is always good, he is always there when there is a battle. So he will be one of the two leaders, yes.”
Gesink was highly motivated to win last Sunday’s Amstel Gold race, particularly as it is held on home soil and a victory there would be very valuable for Rabobank. He cracked in the finale, though, and crossed the line 19 seconds back in ninth place. It was a solid result, but a long way off the effort of Gilbert.
“Robert had some cramps,” said Dekker, the winner of the race ten years ago. “I think we can expect that he doesn’t have the cramps tomorrow. It is a better race for him, I think. Longer climbs, a bit less stressing.” However he does have a concern. “Fleche was not too good…he is a little bit nervous about that,” he admits.
What’s clear is the respect he has for the winner of that race, plus the Amstel Gold. It’s a sentiment that is shared by many at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“The international peloton has one problem, and that is called Gilbert and his team. Especially his team, because that is the difference between him and Cancellara,” he said. But it’s also Gilbert tool. “Last week it looked like he was breaking, he was pulling for the last five kilometres…but he was just warming up.”