Belgian wants to hold onto Vuelta lead as long as possible but not take unnecessary risks
Although Philippe Gilbert (OmegaPharma-Lotto) has won many of the world’s biggest one-day races, this is the first time he has ever held the leader’s jersey in either of the Grand Tours. While the Belgian is under no illusions as to his chances of taking the race overall, he had his team make sure that his tenure in red lasts for as long as possible.
“During the whole stage my team has controlled the four breakaway riders,” said Gilbert after the stage. “They weren’t dangerous for GC so it was good for us. I was well positioned before the final climb but Katusha set the pace really high. Many riders lost contact; I hung on but I’ve suffered a lot.”
With today’s stage finish, like yesterday’s, reminiscent of an Ardennes classic, it held no fears for the winner of this year’s Amstel Gold Race. The only worry was to stay at the front of the race on the tough 2nd category climb that preceded it.
“When I passed the Alto de Valdepeñas with my main adversaries, I thought I could keep the jersey,” he explained. “There was nothing I could do against [stage winner Igor] Antón. In such a climb, everyone ends up where he should be! But the Mur de Huy at the Flèche Wallonne is harder than this one.”
Like many in the peloton, the high Costa del Sol temperatures are affecting Gilbert; even as a resident of the Principality of Monaco, the Belgian is not used to such weather.
“I wasn’t feeling as good as yesterday,” he continued. “Again I suffered the heat; that’s not my speciality. I had some percentage of form missing that made the difference between winning and not winning the stage. It’s a great motivating factor for the whole team to defend this jersey.”
While Gilbert hopes to hold onto the red jersey for as long as possible, with his main target for this part of the season is the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia on October 3rd. With the weather expected to change, the Belgian will not jeopardise his chances there unnecessarily.
“I have some chances to keep it till the end of stage 8 I guess,” he said, “but rain is expected tomorrow and as much as I enjoy being the leader of the Vuelta, I won’t take any crazy risk if it’s dangerous.”
With 2005 World champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step) missing the race in Belgium after sitting out much of the season with a persistent knee injury, Gilbert will find himself the virtually undisputed leader of the Belgian team.