# Philippe Gilbert Takes a Break, Skips Tour of Flanders
Philippe Gilbert, the 2017 Tour of Flanders champion, has announced that he will not participate in this year’s race, opting instead for a much-needed break to recover from a string of disappointing performances. Following his struggles at Milan-Sanremo and subsequent withdrawals from the E3 Saxo Bank Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, Gilbert acknowledged that both his physical and mental states require restoration.
“We decided with the team that I would take a period of rest now because it is not going well at all,” Gilbert explained. He further reflected on his recent difficulties: “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.”
Gilbert’s journey back to form has been hampered by a serious knee injury, which he initially underestimated. “I’ve had a bad diagnosis of the knee. We didn’t really realise how serious that second crash was,” he admitted. “In the end, it was much more serious than we initially thought. Maybe I should have stopped my 2020 season at that point.”
Having only recently started to pedal without pain again, Gilbert recognizes the toll his recovery has taken. “The Friday before Milan-Sanremo was the first time I could pedal without any knee pain. So, this has been eleven days now. Maybe this is also an explanation that the body is doing a kind of decompression after having to face with so much pain,” he noted.
Reflecting on his preparation, Gilbert added, “At the team training camp in January, I was still at least 20 or 30% behind the average level of the group. I went through a period of doubt, especially because I was putting pressure on myself to be ready for Milan-Sanremo.” Despite some physical progress, he felt he may have rushed his recovery.
“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.”
Moving forward, Gilbert plans to take 4-5 days off the bike to prioritize his recovery. “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. After all, that’s why I practice sport,” he concluded.
As fans await news of his potential return, Gilbert’s well-being will remain the top priority moving forward.
