After victory at this year’s Tour of Flanders and Amstel Gold Race, Philippe Gilbert proved that he still capable of winning the biggest one-day races in the world.
After this year of resurgence, Philippe Gilbert has signed a contract extension with Quick-Step Floors taking him through to the 2020 season.
In these two extra years, Gilbert and his team manager Patrick Lefevere have made it clear that the Belgian’s big objective will be to win Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, therefore taking victories in all five Monuments.
Victory at Flanders this year was Gilbert’s first momument sucess since victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2011.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Lefevere underlined that Gilbert extended his contract with these goals in mind.
‘It’s also not really about money, but so much more about goals,’ adding, ‘Phil signed a new two-year contract because he still gives himself up to two years to win both the Primavera and Paris Roubaix. Then he has the big five.’
Gilbert has come close in the past to taking Milan-San Remo, finishing third in both 2008 and 2011. As for Roubaix, the Wallonne has not raced the Queen of the Classics since 2007.
If Gilbert was able to complete this coveted set, he would become the fourth rider ever to do so joining fellow Belgians Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck.