Philippe Gilbert will be at Tour de France: "I plan to work for Caleb Ewan, but I'm also motivated to show myself"

Philippe Gilbert has revealed that he will very likely be representing Lotto Soudal at the Tour de France, the final Grand Tour of his career.

"I plan to work for Caleb Ewan, but I'm also motivated to show myself. With my experience I can be a great help to the team. Now I am looking forward to the start in Copenhagen," Gilbert told Wielerflits. The Belgian veteran struggled through the last years as he heads towards retirement, however at 4 Jours du Dunkerque he took a stage win and the overall classification turned his luck around. 

Gilbert has became a card for the Tour de France, having revealed his role. Ewan, alongside Andreas Kron, Tim Wellens, Florian Vermeersch and Brent Van Moer are set to make the Tour team. Two more spots will be available, with the likelihood that that they will be filled by two riders that will be part of the Australian's leadout. 

Gilbert may be a possibility for breakaway wins, although Lotto Soudal will have Tim Wellens and Andreas Kron who will be fit for the same type of stages. Besides the sprints, the Belgian team will be looking for UCI points via the hilly stages, and possibly the fifth stage which will go over the cobblestones of northern France.