Philippe GIlbert on his heyday was one of the best classics riders in the history of cycling, usually in the hilly terrain where he managed to win many of the world's best races, but late in his career he moved to the cobbled classics where he managed to win both the
Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. He compares himself to
Mathieu van der Poel, but is unsure that he would be able to match the Alpecin-Decuninck rider in his current form.
"I think I could have followed him in my prime. But beating him? That's so difficult. I went to the Maasmechelen cross with my family. When you see how fast he comes in and out of a bend..." Gilbert said to Het Nieuwsblad.