Philippe Gilbert is a Belgian road bicycle racer, and rising star in the sporting world. He plays for UCI World Team Lotto-Soudal. In 2012, he achieved worldwide recognition when he won the UCI Road World Championship race.

Born in Verviers, Belgium, he turned pro in 2003, joining French team Groupama-FDJ. His career grew rapidly, effortlessly winning a series of races on the national level. After joining the Belgian team Lotto-Soudal, he shot to fame on the world stage, whilst his success and recognition in his home country grew. He won the Flandrien of the Year award at the end of 2009, which cemented his role as the best Belgian rider in road racing. In 2011, he experienced an extremely successful year. He notably won the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He is only won of two to have won all three Ardennes classics. He won the 2017 Tour of Flanders in a dramatic solo victory, one in which he finished leaps and bounds ahead of his rivals. This was his biggest win since 2012.

He is known for his specialisation in the Classics races. He is also described as a Puncheur, a cyclist who operates in rolling terrain with short and steep climbs.
A driven and ambitious sportsman, he has stated his aim to win all five of cycling’s biggest one-day races.