The one and only.....Philippe Gilbert

So this post is a week late, mostly because of exams but it's kinda interesting to look back on it and revel in how good of a bike rider gilbert is.  The spring classics are kindof divided into two portions, the cobbled ones (so Milan-San-Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Flanders) and the hilly Ardennes (so ones like Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone and Liege) If you watched the cobbled ones you'll have seen that no one rider wins all of these races, partially due to a really dominant showing by Spartacus at E3 and everyone was afraid and therefore raced against him and thus he didn't do so well.  Then the Ardennes came and Gilbert did the same thing at the first of the "big" spring ardennes.

La Flèche Brabançonne was the first seeing how people would do and Gilbert went clear winning from a two man break that got away on the final lap of the circuit, and everyone feared that this may have been Gilbert showing his hand a bit too early. 

Win #1

Up came Amstel gold and it was a race that Gilbert was coming back to defend his title from last year, with his team working super hard to keep the pack together.  Rodriguez tried to make a move and Gilbert marked it, and finished ahead of both Rodriguez and Gerrans.

Still behind?....yup

This was starting to become a common site, with Gilbert just decimating the field.  He's a rider who's unequaled in short steep finishes that you can just punch over.  Fleche Wallone was three days after and it was looking like Gilbert would do it again, but did he have the team to do it.  The circuit would ride three times over the Mur du Huy, and on the last ascent over it, Gilbert just gave it his all, gapping both Rodriguez (again) and coming ahead of Sanchez too to claim win #3.  Would he be able to go for the triple?

Up and Away

Liege Baston Liege, which is one of cyclings monuments was going to be the biggest race out of the four so far.  It was shaping up to be a huge duel between the Schlecks and him.  On the final the Schlecks made a move and no one could match but the brothers and Gilbert.  You would think that two on one that it would surely favor the two.  Well Gilbert made a move to say nope, you're not getting away easily and gapped Andy and from there, they threw everything and the kitchen sink at Gilbert, but it just was not to be and Gilbert would pull off the quad, only one other person has ever done it.

OHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSS

So here's to a fantastic rider, hopefully all the issues get sorted out with his team.

~Cheers