Philippe Gilbert announces his candidature to become Sven Vanthourenhout successor as Belgium's National Team coach

Sven Vanthourenhout will move on from his role of a coach at the Belgian National Team next year and likely take up a new challenge as sports director either at Soudal - Quick-Step or UAE Team Emirates. His replacement won't have it easy to take over after a period with Olympic and World titles every year. While Vanthourenhout proposed current junior coach Serge Pauwels as his successor, ex-pro Philippe Gilbert also rises up to the challenge.

"When I heard that Sven Vanthourenhout was going to stop, I immediately thought about it and talked about it with my family," Gilbert tells Sporza. "In the meantime, I have also officially put myself forward as a candidate. So the cycling association knows that I am very motivated to do it."

"I've done commentary, interviews, ridden a motorbike, written columns for the newspaper, ... I'm also still on the athletes' committee. I still know my sport very well. And it's all extra experience that I bring with me and that makes me even more complete than when I was still a rider."

"I still have good contact with many riders. I don't send everyone a message after every victory, but I am there when necessary. After a victory, you get hundreds of messages as a rider, but I have always found it important to be there in the difficult moments."

As a rider, Gilbert can bring tons of experience to the table, but he doesn't have any experience as a team leader. "But in my last years as a rider, I already had a bit of a road captain role," Gilbert counters.

"That was a role I enjoyed. I like taking responsibility, making decisions, discussing with the coaches. I have never been afraid to speak and discuss, usually with results. I would now like to pass on that experience."

"I would be very proud if I got that chance. I would do it with a lot of passion. If you don't have that, there's no point. I realize that being the national coach of Belgium is not an easy job, but it is a nice challenge. With the qualities we have, there is certainly more to be gained in the future."