Rider of the year? The man who pedaled above all others? No question: Phillipe Gilbert. In the span of one week in April, the Belgian was simply untouchable, notching back-to-back-to-back classics wins in the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. And Gilbert’s dominance didn’t end there. His 2011 tally included Belgian national titles in the road race and time trial, triumph at the Clásica San Sebastián, and a win on the opening stage of the Tour de France.

“It’s nothing short of a dream to win all these single-day races,” Gilbert told Bicycling. “A lot of things came together to make this year just over the top. There’s the physical maturity, the experience, having a great team, then just that I’ve had amazing condition all year long. And I still have it.” That’s good news for the U.S.-based BMC Racing Team, which signed the superstar for 2012.