Belgian cyclist Philippe Gilbert has announced that he will not be participating in the upcoming classics races in the 2020 season due to a lingering knee injury. Gilbert, who suffered a fall in the first stage of the Tour de France, has been battling with pain in his left knee since then.
Gilbert’s decision to withdraw from the BinckBank Tour was made in order to prioritize his recovery. As a result, he has also ruled out his participation in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
In a statement, Gilbert explained his decision, saying: “I quickly got back on the bike after my crash… Maybe I started again too soon, but the rehab was going well… I still felt pain… I then realized that I couldn’t be at my best at the Tour of Flanders and at Paris-Roubaix. These races are even more demanding on the body, the body must be 200% ready.”
Following his withdrawal, Gilbert has returned to Monaco, where he will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program under the supervision of Lotto Soudal’s medical staff.
Gilbert expressed his determination to make a full recovery, saying: “My first priority is to heal completely… Hopefully a Tour of Spain participation is still playable, but that’s not yet relevant. What matters now is a full recovery.”
General Manager of Lotto Soudal, John Lelangue, expressed his support for Gilbert, stating: “For us it is important that he recovers completely and that he comes back to one hundred percent. The objective now will be to race in 2021 with Phil’s well-known ambition for his classics.”
