In 2014 Philippe Gilbert decided to skip the Flemish races but it didn't leave him with a good feeling. "I missed those races," the Belgian says. "I am even willing to sacrifice Liege-Bastogne-Liege to prepare for Roubaix."

Het Laatste Nieuws has talked to Philippe Gilbert in Monaco where the Belgian has made it clear that he wants to do a Flemish spring season in 2015. In the last few years, he has decided to skip races like the Tour of Flanders to focus on the hillier classics.

"I want to go back to the Flemish classics. I really want to participate in the Omloop and Kuurne again. I miss those races. If you don't do the, you think 'Shit, I m not there,'" he tells Het Laatste Nieuws.

"I also want to prepare specifically for Paris.Roubaix. I am even willing to sacrifice Liege-Bastogne-Liege to be there."

"It is my dream to win every classic at least once. Only Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are still missing.

''La Primavera 'is a weird race. I'm almost always good but I have always missed out. Maybe I should even call Eddy (Merckx).... Seven times! Unbelievable!"

Philippe Gilbert realizes that in his team BMC which also has Greg Van Avermaet for the Flemish races, is not in favour of his plans to skip the Walloon races.

"In those classics I score a lot of WorldTour points. I can't offer this guarantee in De Ronde and Roubaix."

That feeling is confirmed by directeur sportif Valerio Piva. 

"The have been made no final decisions about Philippe's schedule but I'm not in favor of this plan. It's nice that he wants to perform anytime, anywhere, but in modern cycling that is no longer possible. You have to make choices."