At the beginning of the 2015 season, Philippe Gilbert has outlined his goals in an interview with RTBF. Milan-Sanremo, the Ardennes classics, the maglia rosa in the Giro, the Worlds and the Tour. Gilbert is again ambitious for 2015.
 

Since 2011 Philippe Gilbert has gone into almost every race as a potential winner. Places of honor or in the top 10 are not enough to meet the expectations of the Belgian fans. 2014 was another good example, with wins in the Amstel and the Tour of Beijing not enough to attract much national recognition. Looking at the numbers, Gilbert was the best Belgian rider but he was not recognized in the awards ceremonies at the end of the year.

 
"The Kristallenfiets [a prize for best Belgian bike rider] is not what makes me dream. Sometimes a place in the top 10 can provide more satisfaction. In the Tour of Beijing, I delivered a top performance on a 13km climb. That is something I have never done before. My employers were very satisfied.”

Victories are in fact the only rewards that truly motivate Gilbert.

"My dream is still to win all the classics. If I can add a beautiful classic in 2015, it will already be a good part of the successful season.”

All classics have the same value according to the former world champion. "Every time there is a different focus, a special atmosphere. I always take as much fun from riding each of the classics. Obviously, if I could win San Remo, it would add more to my series. I could delete on Milan-San Remo from the list and it would be one less to win.

La Primvera will be on the menu in 2015 but there will be no Tour of Flanders. After consultation with the BMC management, Gilbert will focus on the Ardennes and the maglia rosa in the Giro – without any regrets. But comments from Greg Van Avermaet this winter left him disappointed. After their successful collaboration at the Worlds, it would have been natural for them to line up in the same races. That will not be the case after Van Avermaet made it clear that he would like not to share the captaincy in the cobbled races.

"I was disappointed with his reaction. I have told him and I have told the team. I think I deserve more respect. I have won enough races in the past. Things have been arranged between us and I hope that we can continue to ride together in the future.”

The Tour de France will pass through Liege which means that the race will again be an objective for Gilbert.

“When I told the management that I wanted to do the Tour, I was surprised to get told that I was on a list of 12 or 13 contenders. I was disappointed but I got the same treatment as everyone else. I will have to fight for my spot. It's a challenge.”

Gilbert season never ends in July. Later he will tackle the Worlds and Il Lombardia with the ambition to do better than last year’s two 7th places.