Paris (AFP)
Philippe Gilbert, road world champion in 2012, signed for three years with Lotto Soudal, announced Monday the Belgian team on its website.
Gilbert, who had been playing under the colors of Quick-Step since 2017, another Belgian team, will make his return to training in 2020 where he exploded between 2010 and 2011.
"I still wanted to run, that was no doubt," reveals the 37-year-old Belgian rider, quoted in Lotto-Soudal's statement.
"When I learned that I could only extend with my current team for a single season, it was clear to me that I wanted to change, and the clearest project was Lotto Soudal."
"Gilbert can pass on his experience to our workforce, which is thirsty for new success," said Marc Sergeant, sports director of the Belgian team.
The puncher, who won the UCI World N1 spot under Sergeant in 2011, will be reunited with a team with whom he has scooped up almost everything.
In the only year 2011 for Omega Pharma-Lotto, formerly Lotto-Soudal, Gilbert won Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, Tour de Lombardie, the first stage of the Tour de France. France or the San Sebastian Classic.
During his professional career, also marked by passages to the French Games (2005-2008) and BMC (2012-2016), Gilbert won all the "Monuments" (Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne -Liège, Lombardy Tower) with the exception of Milan-Sanremo.
His colossal record also includes nine stages of great tours and two championship titles of Belgium on road.
© 2019 AFP