Philippe Gilbert looking to repeat 2011 victory at Clasica San Sebastian
Jul 28 2017 03:22 am CET
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEEDSBelgian Philippe Gilbert will headline QuickStep Floors' roster for the Clasica San Sebastian and will attempt to repeat his victory of 2011.
Gilbert participated in five previous editions of the Basque classic, finishing first in 2011 and second in 2015. The former Belgian champion did not take part in 2016.
"It’s my first race since the Tour de France, so it’s hard to say where I am, especially as I had to pull out of the Tour due to illness," Gilbert said.
"San Sebastian is always an important race, and of course I would like to do good, but it is difficult to say where I stand. I think my body is feeling better and I’m looking forward to racing again and to test the waters, but I’ll be able to say more after the race."
The 2017 classics season has been particularly successful for Gilbert, who took his first Tour of Flanders win in April and went on to take a fourth victory at the Amstel Gold Race. He also finished second in Dwars door Vlaanderen and E3 Harelbeke.
QuickStep also unveiled that Dan Martin was supposed to be selected for the 'Klasikoa' but the Irish rider will have to spend the next three weeks recovering from two small fractures to the vertebrae.
Philippe will now be joined by Gianluca Brambilla, Eros Capecchi, David De La Cruz, Dries Devenyns, Enric Mas, Pieter Serry and Zdenek Stybar.
