On Saturday, Philippe Gilbert will put his off-season on hold to do a cross race. The Belgian is in Switzerland and will participate in a unique event around the Estayer Castle. "But not to win, it's purely for pleasure. Moreover, I haven't done a cross race for six years," he tells Sporza.

Philippe Gilbert will benefit from the beautiful weather and admits that cyclocross has a special place in his heart.

"It's a passion. When I was younger, I rode several cross races. But unfortunately the team rules banned the discipline and it's six years ago I did my last one."

In Estavayer-Le-Lac, Gilbert will form a duo with his BMC teammate Danilo Wyss.

"We're good mates. It will surely be fun."

And that is the only purpose after all these years.

"Most of all, it will be funny. I am not in shape but as a rider you always give everything. I have not already done any training. I will do that one day before the event on the race course."

That course is not a typical one for a cross race. For an hour, the riders will do laps of a 2.8km circuit that goes through the town and around the castle on cobblestones, stairs, jumps and a wall.

Gilbert is wary: "That is interesting, but we're not going to take too many risks. We do not want to get injured.".