# Philippe Gilbert Makes His Comeback at the Ardennes Classics
Philippe Gilbert is set to return to competitive cycling after a brief hiatus, participating in upcoming highly-anticipated races: La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Lotto Soudal rider has previously claimed victories in both events in 2011 and is excited to engage with the challenges of these iconic races once again.
Reflecting on his time away, Gilbert stated, *“Following several days without the bike, I was able to train well and I am really happy to be at the start of La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I needed a short period of rest, but now I am ready to race again on the highest level.”*
However, his preparation faced an unexpected hurdle when he experienced a crash during a solo training session. Although he escaped serious injury, he sustained several abrasions and had to modify his training plans. Despite this, Gilbert managed to log six hours of valuable training, which he believes will positively impact his condition.
Ten years on from his notable victories, Gilbert is keen to enjoy the experience at the Ardennes Classics this year. He commented, *“Of course, I had quite an unusual run-up to the Ardennes Classics this year. Due to the short break, it’s difficult to say where I am, shape-wise, compared to the other riders. But I don’t fear these races are coming a little too soon. I am definitely not amongst the favourites, so there’s no pressure to perform. However, I am really eager to race. What concerns my ambitions, I am cautious. Let’s just go for the best result possible.”*
The unpredictable nature of La Flèche Wallonne makes it a compelling watch, especially with the infamous Mur de Huy as the final challenge. Gilbert shared his perspective on the race dynamics: *“There isn’t one clear favourite this year, which will make for an open race. I expect that quite some teams will want to anticipate. When you have the right composition, a small group could make it till the very end. But for that, you need at least 40 seconds at the foot of the Mur. Also at Lotto Soudal, we have to anticipate and race aggressively. In the past, Rik Verbrugghe and our sports director Mario Aerts have shown that it isn’t a mission impossible to win from a breakaway.”*
He also acknowledged the intense competition that lies ahead: *“However, there aren’t much tactics involved when climbing the Mur de Huy. It is one of the toughest finishes of the season and certainly an honest climb. The one who is able to suffer the most, wins La Flèche Wallonne.”*
Gilbert will compete alongside teammates Sébastien Grignard, Tomasz Marczyński, Sylvain Moniquet, Stefano Oldani, Tosh Van der Sande, and Tim Wellens. All eyes will be on him as he takes the start line and aims for a rewarding performance in this year’s Ardennes Classics.
