Victorious in the Amstel Gold Classic in southern Holland on Sunday, the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider proved unstoppable again on the Flèche's steep summit finish. Gilbert ripped out of the pack with 300m to go to cross the line three seconds ahead of Spain's Joaquim Rodríguez while the 2008 Olympic road race champion Samuel Sánchez, also of Spain, was third.

Gilbert said: "It's a big surprise for me. Even at the start I was feeling a bit tired from Amstel Gold but after about 60km I started to feel better. Then the second time [of three] we went over the Mur, none of my team-mates were around in a big break and that made me really angry - and motivated me more."

Gilbert said his plan to break away before the final climb had been foiled but he had adapted his tactics to win. "I'd planned to make a joint move with Alexandre Vinokourov with 10km to go," he said. "That didn't work out but then the way I charged off so far from the finish on the final climb really demoralised my rivals. They couldn't respond."

Read more of the Reuters story at The Guardian ...