Ardennes classics

And so it begins…

This weekend marks the start of the Ardennes classics; Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège – three one-day races held over a single week. It kicks off this Sunday with Amstel Gold and after yesterday’s race, Brabantse Pijl, it looks like Philippe Gilbert (BMC) is back to his winning ways. It was Gilbert’s first win since Stage 12 at last year’s Vuelta but the BMC leader appears to have timed his form to perfection ahead of the weekend. Out-sprinting one of the sport’s most talented young sprinters, who will lead Orica-GreenEdge at the Giro d’Italia, certainly bodes well for the Belgian’s Ardennes campaign. However, given Simon Gerrans’ strong performance in the day-long break, Gilbert will have to be at his best.