Gilbert on target for spring classics

By Paul Verkuylen in Adelaide, Australia

Belgian classics specialists, Philippe Gilbert (Francaise Des Jeux) finished down in 10th position on the third stage of the Tour Down Under despite pushing hard to prevent the stage from coming down to a sprint in the final kilometre. Ultimately, Australian sprinters got the better of him, but the Belgian still sits in top position on the mountains classification. Not putting too much pressure on himself to ride a good overall classification, Gilbert is concentrating on his preparation for his favored races in March and April.

"I am here first and foremost for training, but this is a nice race, as well as tough," he said. "I am having some good sensations, I felt good on the climb and I will try every day to break away. But the ProTour is always difficult. You have the best riders in the world and it is never simple.

"I had enough left for the sprint, so I gave it a go as every second counts here. I will keep trying until Sunday."

Gilbert is once again targeting the traditional spring classics as he hopes to this year come of age with a big win that has thus far eluded him. "My first real goal is Milan-Sanremo. I will ride Paris-Nice as preparation before that. Then the Tour of Flanders, De Vlaamse Pijl, Amstel and Liège," he explained.