BMC Racing Team’s Philippe Gilbert soloed to victory on Saturday’s fourth stage of the Ster ZLM Toer and regained the overall lead with a day to go
![]() |
News – Gilbert Regains Lead at Ster ZLM Toer
NOTE: Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Gilbert won for the second time in four days by capitalizing on the help of teammates like Ben Hermans and Samuel Sánchez, BMC Racing Team Sport Director Valerio Piva said. Hermans bridged to a breakaway to force other teams to chase while Sánchez set up Gilbert’s winning attack.
Photo:Â PelotonPhotos.com
“Samuel guided Philippe like he did in Amstel,” Piva said. “In the last kilometers, he made an attack and then Philippe went and arrived alone with a gap.” Gilbert, who won Wednesday’s prologue by one second, crossed the line at the end of the 186.7-kilometer race three seconds ahead of Tim Wellens (Lotto-Belisol) and six seconds in front of Paul Martens (Belkin Pro Cycling Team).
With only Sunday’s mostly flat, 173.7-km stage remaining, Gilbert leads Wellens by 12 seconds and Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) by 18. “This was a nice win, but it was not an easy day”, Gilbert said. “With the headwinds on the climbs, it was not easy to make the difference.”
Racing through the Ardennes on a course that included the famed climbs of the Col du Rosier and the Cote de la Redoute, Hermans bridged to a seven-man breakaway, forcing then-race leader Marcel Kittel’s Team Giant-Shimano squad to chase, along with Meersman’s Omega Pharma-Quick Step team.
Photo: PelotonPhotos.com
“We decided to ride full gas the last two laps of the finishing circuit,” Gilbert said. “Samuel did an amazing job, similar to what he did on the Cauberg at Amstel. He went as fast as he could and I just finished the last part of the climb alone.”
After scoring his fourth win of the season, Gilbert also donned the red jersey as leader of the points classification. Already a two-time winner of this race in 2009 and 2011, Gilbert said the victory was all the better since it came in his home region. “It is always nice to ride on my home roads – especially when I win,” he said. “I knew a lot of people cheering along the route and this is a moment I will never forget.”
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- RR Result: Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup
- Features, Reports, Results
- 2023 UCI World Masters Track Cycling Championships Day 1
- Series Table: Isle of Man Youth League 2023
- BMCR Result: Victoria CC Criterium
- 93rd VeloViewer Monsal Hill Climb Event Preview
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 3
- RR Result: JGCC Road Race
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League 2
- HC Result: Cheltenham & County CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Westerham CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Ayr Roads CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Kingston Wheelers Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Haytor Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Widecombe Hill Climb
- TT Result: East Anglian VTTA 25m TT
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- HC Result: Team Lifting Gear Products (Pea Royd Lane)
- HC Result: Team Lifting Gear Products Hill Climb
- TT Result: Paceline RT 25m TT
- HC Result: Watford Velo Sport Hill Climb
- HC Result: Cleveland Whs Hill Climb
- HC Result: Withington Wheelers Hill Climb
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Rd 4
- BMCR Result: Moda RT E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale
- Dedication to the late Steve Knight
- TT Result: SVTTA (Speed Trophy) 15m TT
- RR Result: 360cycling Junior National Series Finale
- TT Result: Bramley Wheelers 25m TT
- TT Result: New Forest CC Autumn 10
- TT Result: Berkhamsted CC Sporting 10m TT
- TT Result: Saint Piran 19m TT
- HC Result: Exeter Wheelers Hill Climb
- HC Result: Wigmore CC Hill Climb
- Track Result: 2023 Derny Championship
- Crit Result: West Thames Autumn Crits 2
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League Rd 2
- CX Result: CXNE Series Round 2
- CX Result: Western Cyclocross League Rd 1
- CX Result: 3 Peaks 2023
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CX League Rd 1
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd3 (Foxhill)
Other News on VeloUK
- 93rd VeloViewer Monsal Hill Climb Event Preview
- Dedication to the late Steve Knight
- Saint Piran’s Remarkable Journey
- GB Riders for European Road Championships
- News: Ribble Launches Stone into Gravel
- Report: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT 2023
- News: East Cleveland Classic Rescheduled
- ENTRIES NEEDED: Severn Valley GP
- EVENTS: Criterium des Vainqueurs
- RR Result: Scottish National Road Race Championship
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Race Championships(C/D)
- PREVIEW – AA Brown Road Race
- Startlist: Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- News: Ribble adds 105 12 speed to Bikes
- Startlist: RTTC National 10 Mile Championships
- News: Jenny Holl races Rás na mBan with Alba DRT
- WORLD TRACK MASTERS – LESS THAN A WEEK TO ENTER!
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Start List
- News: Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclocross League (WMCCL)
- JUNIOR TOUR OF WALES (Podiums)
- This Sunday: Time Trial’s Blue Ribbon Event – 25 mile Championship
- News: new Womens Cycling Team
- News: Reviving Elite Cycle Racing Taskforce
- News: Charlie Tanfield Extends with Saint Piran
- News: West Midlands Road Race League
- Report: World Championships (August 13, Sunday)
- News: Pedal Club Lunch (August ‘23)
- Report: World Championships (Aug 12, Saturday)
- Report: World Championships (August 11)
- Report: World Championships (August 10)
- Events: Ryedale Grasscrete GP (Men/Women)
- Feature: Handsling Bikes
- News: Tao Geoghegan Hart Signs for Lidl-Trek
- World Championships (Wed, Aug 9)
- Report: World Championships (Aug 8, 2023)
- 2023 World Championships: (Monday)
- Report: World Championships (Sunday)
- Report: Golden Day for GB in Glasgow
- World Championships Report: Scottish Cycling (Aug 4)