Gilbert wins gold at the cycling world championships

01/25

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Phillipe Gilbert (Belgium, middle) at the podium together with Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway, left), silver medallist, and Alejandro Valverde (Spain, right), the bronze medallist.

02/25

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John Dagenkolb (Germany) is interviewed by the press after he came fourth at the finish. He was the biggest favourite from the German team and lost the medal only be few centimeters.

03/25

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Jonathan Monsalve (Venezuela) is at pain when he climbs the Cauberg hill.

04/25

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Kevin de Weert (Belgium, no. 29) lost power after working hard to catch the break-away. He was cheered vigorously by the crowd as thousands of Belgian fans came.

05/25

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Rafael Andriato (Brazil) is the sole contestant from his country and despite vigorous support, he is not good at climbing Cauberg.

06/25

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Dario Cataldo (Italy) is breathing hard when he climbs the Cauberg hill for the eigth time. He was in the initial break-away, but later lost power and did not finish the race.

07/25

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Ying Hon Yeung (Hong-Kong) struggled hard to climb the Cauberg hill, but he was loudly applauded by the gathered crowds. He did not manage to finish the race.

08/25

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Johannes Frohlinger (Germany) steps hard on the pedals as he leads the bunch up the Cauberg hill. Behind him the Belgian team protects its star, Philippe Gilbert (blue jersey, the most left).

09/25

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Maxime Bouet (France) struggles to keep pace on the Cauberg hill as he climbs it for the seventh time. He was in the break-away, but was dropped quickly.

10/25

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Juan Antonio Flecha (Spain) leads the break-away on the seventh climb of the all-important Cauberg hill in Valkenburg.

11/25

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A large group constituted in the front after the bunch caught the break-aways. It is led by French cyclists as it passes the finish line for the fifth time.

12/25

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Enzo Moyano (Argentina) chases the bunch taking advantage of his team car. Strong wind was an important factor in the race and many riders struggled to fight both hills and wind.

13/25

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Kevin de Weert (Belgium, no. 29) leads the bunch as it braces for a sharp downhill towards Maastricht. The yellow sign reads "Watch out, buses stop on the lane".

14/25

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The bunch chases break-aways as it passes through village of Berg en Terblijt. Belgian and Dutch riders can be seen at the front of the peloton.

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Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark) has been a part of the second break-away, but did not manage to keep pace and was left behind on the fourth lap around Valkenburg.

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The Belgian team works hard to chase the break-aways as they were no strong Belgian riders in them. They were succesful and brought the pack together with several laps to go.

17/25

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A second break-away constitutes on the third lap. On a sharp turn near Maastricht it is led by Juan Antonio Flecha.

18/25

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The break-away of the day, with maximum 5 minutes of advantage over the bunch, descends towards Maastricht on the third lap around Valkenburg. It is led by Vitaliy Buts (Ukraine).

19/25

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Wheels and legs of the riders in the bunch create astounding view for the viewers. Thousands of attendees crowded around the 16,1-km lap around Valkenburg.

20/25

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The bunch passes the buffet zone on the second lap around Valkenburg. A Belgian rider and the whole British team are seen in front as they start to work hard to catch the break-away.

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The break-away, led by Pablo Lastras (Spain) passes through the buffet zone on the second (out of 10) laps around Valkenburg.

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Riders in the bunch pass through the feeding zone just after their first passage of the finish line. The Croatian riders in the middle are seen preparing to throw away their jackets.

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The colourful bunch climbs the Lange Raarberg in Meersen. The initial 106 km of the course led through different parts of Limburg, and the final 161 were raced on a street circuit around Valkenburg.

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The bunch climbs the Lange Raarberg in Meersen, chasing two small breakaways. The bunch is led by an Italian cyclist.

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Vitaliy Buts (Ukraine) and Gatis Smukulis (Latvia) try to break away from the bunch on the Lange Raarberg climb in Meersen in one of the first attempts of the day. They were quickly caught.

Report current story

Philippe Gilbert from Belgium convincingly won the cycling world championships in Valkenburg, the Netherlands. After a solo attack on the Cauberg hill he finished seconds ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway) and Alejandro Valverde (Spain).