Belgian couldn’t be 100% on final climb and hopes it won’t affect his Worlds preparation
Philippe Gilbert (OmegaPharma-Lotto) started today’s stage to Xorret del Cati with a slim 10-second lead over both Igor Antón (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and would have needed all of his powers to hold them off. Unfortunately for the Belgian, being brought down in the early crash meant that he was not at 100% on the steep climb, which contributed to his losing 2’05” to both riders.
“What a mess!” Gilbert exclaimed after the stage. “The road was wide and we went to a narrower one; [Lampre-Farnese Vini’s] Petacchi got his wheels changed last night and there was no response from the surface at the first braking; that caused the crash at 50km/h.
“Five or six riders came onto my back,” he continued. “I also felt a chain ring in my back. For at least a minute I couldn’t breathe; my bike was broken; I also had to change my shoes.”
This was not the end to Gilbert’s troubles on the stage, as he suffered yet more technical issues, as well as feeling the physical effects of hitting the tarmac; as well as being hit by so many other riders.
“Then I’ve had to change my shoes a second time,” he said, “and for the rest of the stage my back was painful. It was necessary to be at 100% of my capacities for climbing up to Xorret del Cati; but I’m not disappointed.”
With 2005 World champion Tom Boonen only just recovering from a persistent knee injury, Gilbert will be the virtually undisputed leader of the Belgian team at next month’s World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. “I just hope there won’t be any consequences from this crash in my preparation for the World Championships,” he said.
“It’s been the first time of my career being in the lead at a Grand Tour and it might not be the last time,” he added optimistically. “Maybe one day at the Tour de France…
“I thank my team so much for all the great work,” he concluded.