Philippe Gilbert may have lost the habit of racing on the cobbles during his time at BMC, but the old instincts remain. Second place behind Quick-Step Floors teammate Yves Lampaert at Dwars door Vlaanderen not only augurs well for Gilbertīs spring campaign, it also marks his first podium finish in a cobbled classic since the 2010 Tour of Flanders. Gilbertīs career has oscillated between highs and lows in the intervening period, with moments of inspiration interspersed with spells of ennui, but his confidence has never dimmed. Following his off-season switch to Quick-Step, Gilbert is tackling his first full campaign of cobbled classics since 2012, and he had no concerns about returning to the cut and thrust of racing in Flanders. `I never doubted it,` Gilbert told reporters in a tent behind the podium afterwards. `I never doubted, because I think I have a certain level of experience in these races all the same. Itīs like a guy who plays football: if heīs got a certain skill, he never loses it. Itīs the same thing.`ADVERTISEMENT After his trying first season at the team, BMC pressed Gilbert to focus his energies primarily on the Ardennes Classics thereafter, leaving Greg Van Avermaet to lead the line on the cobbles. At a Quick-Step team already replete with leaders, Patrick Lefevere has instead opted to deploy his new signing across the entire spring campaign. Gilbert lines out alongside Tom Boonen, Niki Terpstra et al over the next 10 days, before linking up with Dan Martin and Julan Alaphilippe in the Ardennes in late April. `Iīm expected to perform on all terrains,` Gilbert said. `Iīve got quite a few years behind me, a good level of experience that I can share with my teammates.` As part of a strong Quick-Step team at Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gilbert proved a consummate team player. His attack on Berendries with almost 80 kilometres remaining forced the initial selection, and his fierce acceleration on the Paterberg with 32 kilometres to go helped to form t ...
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