Philippe Gilbert wins cycling world road race title

Belgium’s Philippe Gilbert yesterday became the 18th Belgian to win the world cycling road race after a breathtaking show of strength in Valkenburg, the Netherlands. The 30-year-old attacked on the last of 11 ascents of the Cauberg hill after a pulsating 269km race. Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen finished in second place, with Spain’s Alejandro Valverde coming third. With this eagerly anticipated win, Gilbert puts a disappointing season behind him and wins Belgium’s 26th rainbow jersey – the first since Tom Boonen’s triumph in Madrid in 2005.