Mavic athletes shine in spring classics

With an emphatic victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Belgian powerhouse Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) completed a rare sweep of the hilly Ardennes classics. Gilbert is only the second rider in history to achieve this feat. His success completes a string of April wins by Mavic athletes that began with Johan Van Summeren’s (Garmin-Cervélo) triumph in Paris-Roubaix.

“It is the most beautiful day of my sporting life,” Gilbert said after Liege-Bastogne-Liege, also known as La Doyenne, the oldest of the spring classics. “I shall appreciate every moment of this day.”

Gilbert’s historic run began one week earlier in the Netherlands. Starting in Maastricht, the Amstel Gold race is famous for short, sharp climbs and twisting, technical roads. Gilbert and his team rode a smart race, and he delivered an overpowering attack on the Cauberg climb to take victory at the top.

Just days later, Gilbert charged up the super-steep ramps of the Mur de Huy to win La Fleche Wallonne. The 28-year old Belgian hails from this region of the Ardennes and enjoyed the support of many fans. He surged from the front of the peloton with 400m to go and never looked back.

Victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege completed Gilbert’s remarkable streak. After his Omega Pharma-Lotto team monitored the peloton for the first half of the race, he escaped with 20km remaining, tailed only by the brothers Frank and Andy Schleck. Yet Gilbert easily overpowered them in the finale.

For each of these impressive wins, Philippe Gilbert chose Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels. “For me, they are the best combination of light weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics,” he said. The CCU model is often the most popular with Mavic-sponsored road racers. It particularly suits the all-around demands of the Ardennes classics.

Earlier in April, winning Paris-Roubaix required a completely different formula. Johan Van Summeren’s victory with the Garmin-Cervelo team validated their smart tactics and team strength. It also affirmed the effort of Mavic engineers to create an entirely new wheel for the special demands of this rugged course. The M40 prototype developed in close collaboration between Mavic and the pro riders featured a wide tire bed, medium profile carbon rim, and extreme strength to combat the cobblestones.

From start to finish, April 2011 is truly one to remember for Mavic athletes.