Reigning world road race champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) has had a relatively disappointing season so far and has yet to book his first victory wearing the rainbow jersey.

However he states that he didn’t lose faith, and has build his condition steadily. “I always had confidence, I knew it [top form] was coming,” he told La Dernière Heure. “I know I've worked hard. It is reassuring…I'm not 100% yet, but I should get in shape just in time…”

Sagan is a major impediment, though. Gilbert accepts that he [Sagan] was in very good shape this week, with his attack in the finale putting the Belgian under tremendous pressure. “I struggled to stay on his wheel,” Gilbert frankly admitted. “It took me four or five metres, but he saw it.”

However, he believes the difference between the two of them is not insuperable. “If he was not already flat out, he would have accelerated. He could not do that, so I am not far off his form.”

While Sagan was quicker at the finish, Gilbert was not surprised that it was so. “It’s always better to win, but Sagan is one of the quickest riders in the peloton,” he said. “He even beats Cavendish or Greipel in a sprint. I knew that I had little chance of finishing ahead of him, but I tried. I didn’t make a mistake.”

Sagan has stated that he will ride the Amstel Gold Race and perhaps Flèche Wallone before taking a much needed break; Liège-Bastogne-Liège is not currently on his schedule, so Gilbert will hope to have a clear run there. He believes that his preparation will likely be better than that his other rivals.

“I do not think those who raced for the win in the Basque Country, where it was really tough, will have recovered by then,” he said. “As for myself, I put in the time while guys like Valverde and Rodriguez were in training.”

He’ll consequently hope to hit his peak form right on time, starting with Sunday’s Amstel Gold. He’ll encounter Sagan again there and likely square up against him on the Cauberg, continuing their duel. This time, he’ll hope to have the edge.

“He is a phenomenon,” he said of his younger rival. “Having an athlete like this is very important for our sport, which is in crisis. He is full of confidence. I know what it is like, I’ve also known times where you succeed with everything.”