Compared to their dominance at the Tour de France, Team Sky have been underwhelming in the Classics, with just one Monument win since their inception in 2010.
That could all be about to change with Ian Stannard given a central role in the team’s spring leadership. Free from the shackles of his typical early season domestique duties, the 29-year-old explains how being more selfish could be the key to winning Paris-Roubaix.
Stannard was third in Roubaix twelve months ago, a result that was understandably overshadowed by Mat Hayman’s dramatic and surprising win. However the result for the Team Sky rider solidified his position as a Classics contender after his two back-to-back wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2014 and 2015.
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This year, Stannard’s race programme remains relatively unchanged, except for one telling difference. Instead of being asked to slog his guts out for the GC arm of the team at Paris-Nice or Tirreno Adriatico he will be allowed to train in peace, away from the demands of protecting another Team Sky rider.
“Last year I did Paris-Nice and Geraint [Thomas] was leading so you’re on the front everyday and going deeper than you want to trying to help him. I spent a lot of energy there so my idea is to try and be more relaxed and try and do what I need to do during that period,” he told Cyclingnews at the Tour Down Under.
That trust from his employers is important to Stannard, who admits that at times he has difficulty switching mentality from worker to leader.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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