Former World Champion Philippe Gilbert will ride for Etixx-Quick Step next season according to Het Nieuwsblad. The report states that the 34 year-old has agreed terms with Patrick Lefevere and is expected to sign soon.
Gilbert will receive a relatively low salary, but would be offered large performance-based bonuses. He has ridden for BMC Racing since 2012 and this year, he won the Belgian road race championships in what has been a relatively low-key season.
He has built up an impressive palmares during his career and in addition to his Worlds victory in 2012, he has also won numerous classics including the Giro di Lombardia (2009, 2010), Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2011), Amstel Gold Race (2010, 2011, 2014), La Flèche Wallonne (2011), Clásica de San Sebastián and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (2006, 2008).
Another rider linked with a move to the Belgian team is Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo) who could replace Tom Boonen as their cobbled classics specialist when Boonen retires after next season’s Paris-Roubaix.
I don’t get Gilbert to EQS …he targets Ardennes but wuth Martin & Allaphillipe you’d wonder if he’d get a look in