If the Vuelta a Espana is the third and final grand tour of the season, it is also an opportunity for the contenders for the Raibow Jersey to prepare themselves for an assault on one of Cycling’s most famous races. 

After health concerns in July, the Belgian Philippe Gilbert seems to be on the rise, in fact he just finished 7th overall in the Eneco Tour and appears in the Vuelta a Espana with the desire to help his leader and friend Samuel Sanchez, but especially to further raise his level to be readyt on September 28 in Ponferrada. The Ardennes specialist spoke to DHnet.BE, with whom he discusses his ambitions for the worlds, but also the role he should take in the Vuelta starting on August 23: 

"On the Eneco Tour I missed those few watts that make the difference. Since the conclusion of the Belgo-Dutch test, I took care to emphasize recovery. That race is extremely nervous and played on very narrow and dangerous roads. The Vuelta a Espana and three weeks of demanding racing will allow me to continue my rise to the worlds. This is the ideal preparation for the Worlds. I want to put myself at the service of my teammate Samuel Sanchez. He has done a tremendous job for me in the Ardennes (Editor's note: his offensive attack at the foot of the Cauberg was decisive in Gilbert’s victory at Amstel) and it's a good time to return the favor. He will be our man for the general classification and he's a guy who, in addition, I am always extremely fond of, even when he rode for a different team.”