Philippe Gilbert, the 2017 Tour of Flanders winner, has decided to take a period of rest following a series of disappointing performances at recent races. Gilbert, who has experienced physical and mental fatigue, hopes to return for the Ardennes Classics, but this is yet to be confirmed.
“We decided with the team that I would take a period of rest now because it is not going well at all,” explains Philippe Gilbert. “It’s been a few weeks now that things haven’t been going well. We took the time to analyse everything there was to discuss and we came to the conclusion that it is a lack of mental and physical freshness. I think it is due to all the work I did after my crash at the Tour de France last year. I am still human.”
Gilbert attributes his struggles to the intense training he underwent after his crash, explaining, “I put in a lot of work, without any decent rest really, because during the weeks off the bike, I was working hard with the physiotherapist or other specialists… In the end, it was much more serious than we initially thought. Maybe I should have stopped my 2020 season at that point.”
He also mentions the toll of riding in cold conditions and his recent relief from knee pain, saying, “Maybe this is also an explanation that the body is doing a kind of decompression after having to face with so much pain… I think I’m now paying the price for this. Another important element is that I have been riding in the cold a lot this year. Of course, this doesn’t help with an injury like that.”
Gilbert reflects on his performance at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, stating, “I managed to take a good result, but this had more to do with experience than with the shape… In the end, I haven’t been at my best yet this season. It is now time to take a step back and this will allow me to get over the hurdle. I’ve reached a point where my shape is no longer evolving. I am stagnating and I can’t reach the next level.”
As for his future plans, Gilbert says, “My idea is to have 4-5 days off the bike and then slowly resume training. The Ardennes Classics remain an option, but it’s still too early to talk about this. First, I want to feel 100%, both physically and mentally, in order to play a role in the finales.”
Philippe Gilbert’s break from racing highlights the importance of rest and recovery in maintaining peak performance in professional cycling.
