Belgium’s Philippe Gilbert back with win after Worlds miss

Belgian Philippe Gilbert of team Omega Pharma repeated his Giro del Piemonte win today in Cherasco in Northwestern Italy. He jumped clear in the last kilometre to finish ahead of Italian Leonardo Bertagnolli (Androni) and Dane Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank).

“I felt good,” explained Gilbert to La Gazzetta dello Sport, “and I was able to finish the team’s work.”

The win comes only one and a half weeks after Gilbert led the Belgian national team at the World Championships in Geelong, Australia. A chasing group nullified his attacks there and he finished 18th, but today he was able to capitalize on his good form.

Team Omega Pharma worked in the final kilometres of the 194-kilometre race in Italy’s Piemonte region. The Belgian team crushed the short-lived attempt by Alexandr Dyachenko (Astana) and Vladimir Gusev (Katusha) to break free for the win. Gilbert, despite having the status as race favourite, broke free of key rivals Breschel and Filippo Pozzato (Katusha).

“With 700 metres to go I felt great,” continued Gilbert. “more or less as with the Worlds, only I am not always able to win when I am in optimum condition.”

Pozzato added, “Gilbert showed he still has his form from the Worlds.”

The win comes one year after Gilbert pulled off a magical triple win: Paris-Tours, Piemonte and Giro di Lombardia. Both Gilbert and Pozzato ended up together on the closing climbs of Paris-Tours on Sunday, but the race resulted in a sprint win for Spaniard Oscar Freire (Rabobank). With his win today, however, Gilbert will be watched even closer on Saturday at Giro di Lombardia.

“Tomorrow, I will go and ride part of the course, covering the new climb,” said Gilbert. “I am more worried about the descent after the the Colma di Sormano.”

Lombardia is called the ‘race of the falling leaves’ and typically closes the cycling season for all cyclists. New World Champion Thor Hushovd of team Cervélo will close his season at the race, along the lakeside in Como.  He raced today with number 77, the same number he wore at the World Championships.

Results:
1. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma Lotto)
2. Leonardo Bertagnolli (Androni Diquigiovanni)
3. Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank)
4. Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha)
5. Dries Devenyns (Quick Step)
6. Mauro Finetto (Liquigas Doimo)
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago CSF)
8. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank)
9. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d’Epargne)
10. Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre Farnese)