During a press conference at the headquarters of Sponsor Lotto in Brussels Gilbert said that "it was the most difficult
decision" in his career. Gilbert told the attended media that he had six offers from Pro-Tour teams but that "it was always
a choice between Francaise des Jeux and Silence - Lotto." Gilbert said: "I took the decision after the race in Gullegem,
on Tuesday. It was difficult for me to inform [Marc] Madiot [team manager of his current team, Francaise des Jeux, editor].
In the end you leave a kind of family, so much friends. I hope to deliver him one big win."
Gilbert continued by saying: "Its a bit like coming home. After my first conversation with Marc Sergeant [team manager
Silence - Lotto, editor] I already had a very good feeling. On a sports level and financially I am setting a svep forwards
an I am in a Belgian team. As a real Belgian thats where I belong."
Gilbert will race a different programm with Silence - Lotto. "I agreed with Marc Sergeant that I will focus on the
Ardennes Classics next year. I will start my season with the Tour of Algarve next year. I will focus on Omloop Het Volk,
a race which has a special place in my heart, Milano - Sanremo, Fleche Wallonne and Liège - Bastogne - Liège. I also
won't ride the Tour next year. I started five times and never came closerin a stage as a fifth place. Silence - Lotto
has enough strong riders for this kind of work. It will be the Giro or the Vuelta. In 2009 the Belgian National Championships
will take place in my hometown, Aywaille... Iv might be that I will focus on the Flemish races again after next
season. I can make choices at my new team and I will have internal and healthy competition. At Francaise des Jeux I had
to be ill or injured before I would not start somewhere."
In 2009 Dirk de Wolf will become sports director at Silence - Lotto. De Wolf was Gilbert's trainer for four years
during his youth and nowadays is driving cars with VIP's during races.
Silence - Lotto manager Marc sergeant is happy with his new signing. "It was the moment to sign Philippe. With us he will
have a team behind him with there support he will be able to win classics," said Sergeant.
Gilberts current team manager at Francaise des Jeux, Marc Madiot worked six years with Gilbert. Madiot told Belgian daily
news 'La Dernière Heure': "I only want to remember the good things."Madiot continued by saying: "I really thought that Philippe
would stay, but this won't change anything in our relationship. It was an exceptional challenge to work together with him
for six years. But it does hurt to see a rider leave who you have brought to the top."
Madiot added: "I think he really wanted to go back to a Belgian team. The fact that he can work with Dirk de Wolf again
also played a role in his decision."
"I hope that Philippe made the right choice and I wish him good luck," Madiot said. The team manager of Francaise des Jeux
concluded: "Maybe he will come back to us after these three years."
