Philippe Gilbert: Happy with improving form in Tour Down Under

Philippe Gilbert signs on, Tour Down Under 2013, stage three

A crash denied Philippe Gilbert an opportunity to challenge for a Tour Down Under title but the world champion has continued to race aggressively in an effort to open his season account in Australia.

Gilbert is in better shape than this time last year after a solid pre-season in which he was buoyed by the rainbow jersey.

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Contributor

Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.